A Whiter Shade of Pale
Annie Lennox Lyrics
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Turned cartwheels 'cross the floor
I was feeling kind of sea-sick
And the crowd called out for more
And the room was humming harder
As the ceiling flew away
When we called out for another drink
But the waiter brought a tray
As the miller told his tale
That her face at first just ghostly
Turned a whiter shade of pale
You said there is no reason
And the truth is plain to see
But I wandered through my playing cards
And would not let her be
And one of sixteen vestal virgins
Who were leaving for the coast
And although my eyes were open
They might just as well be closed
And so it was later
As the miller told his tale
That her face at first just ghostly
Turned a whiter shade of pale
And so it was later
As the miller told his tale
That her face at first just ghostly
Turned a whiter shade of pale
A whiter shade of pale
Turned a whiter shade of pale
A whiter shade of pale
In "A Whiter Shade of Pale," Annie Lennox sings about a surreal experience that feels like a dream or a hallucination. It begins with the singer and a partner dancing at a party - "skipping the light fandango" and "turning cartwheels" - but the singer soon feels sick and disoriented. Despite this, the crowd cheers for more, and the room becomes increasingly chaotic as even the ceiling disappears. When the couple calls for more drinks, they receive an unexpected tray instead.
The second verse introduces a new character, a woman who the singer is fixated on. The woman is one of sixteen "vestal virgins" leaving for the coast, but the singer cannot stop thinking about her despite his wandering thoughts. As the song continues, the miller tells his tale, and the woman's face turns a "whiter shade of pale." It ends by repeating this phrase, as if to refer to a state of unconsciousness or even death.
Overall, the lyrics of "A Whiter Shade of Pale" are open to interpretation and have been analyzed in many ways. Some see it as a tribute to Bach or Shakespeare, while others think it is a commentary on drug use or death. The surreal imagery and dreamlike quality of the song leave much to interpretation, but its haunting melody and iconic organ riff have captured generations of listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
We skipped the light fandango
We danced with exuberance and abandon
Turned cartwheels 'cross the floor
Our wild movements became gymnastic and dizzying
I was feeling kind of sea-sick
My excitement became overwhelming and disorienting
And the crowd called out for more
Our performance was well-received and applauded
And the room was humming harder
The atmosphere grew increasingly intense and electric
As the ceiling flew away
Our surroundings began to melt away and become surreal
When we called out for another drink
We sought to prolong our elation and lose ourselves in intoxication
But the waiter brought a tray
The reality of the moment intruded, reminding us of our mundane existence
And so it was later
In retrospect, after the fervor had died down
As the miller told his tale
Listening to a storyteller recount a tale
That her face at first just ghostly
The woman's expression initially appeared vague and indistinct
Turned a whiter shade of pale
Suddenly, she grew pale and anxious, as if realizing the gravity of the situation
You said there is no reason
You claimed that there was no explanation for what had occurred
And the truth is plain to see
The reality of the situation was evident to everyone
But I wandered through my playing cards
I struggled to understand the situation and tried to find meaning in it
And would not let her be
I refused to let the woman go, despite her growing distress
And one of sixteen vestal virgins
One of many chaste and pure women who were leaving the area
Who were leaving for the coast
Who were departing for a new destination by the sea
And although my eyes were open
Despite being aware of my surroundings
They might just as well be closed
I remained unaware and unresponsive to what was happening around me
A whiter shade of pale
The woman became even paler and more distressed
Turned a whiter shade of pale
The situation became increasingly tense and unsettling
A whiter shade of pale
The woman's distress reached its peak and became even more visible
Lyrics © Onward Music Limited
Written by: Gary Brooker, Keith Reid, Matthew Fisher
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Samantha_C1
For me, Annie Lennox is one of the best female vocalists ever!!❤❤❤
@user-uj7dl7vw2d
definitly
@21bluefins
Completely agree. Her voice is so beautiful..
@gheorgheneaggheorghe9045
Yessss ❤❤❤
@lindapearcr3138
❤
@user-tg1wq8oj1h
Согласна, звезда!
@thomaslapins6022
Procol Harum put this out in the late sixties. It is a perfect song no one could ever do it justice. Well, Annie Lennox just did.
@rosseaualfa
Annie Lennox is so special! When she sings, you get the sence of an Open sky and no roof over your head. I love her voice
@adamknight7041
Check out the new version of this song by Lucy Thomas, it has similarities to this version but if anything I prefer the warmth in Lucy's voice.
Annie Lennox of course is a living legend!
@claudinetillman6459
TOP OF THE evening 🌆 To you Right back at ya 🆗👏 I feel what you felt about this song 🎵🎶🎤🎧🆗👏🏆😁🙆🙅🤷💆👐👏👌💓🫂💕 Thank you very much 👋😁 Absolutely Incredibly phenomenal master piece 🧩 Video 📸 Beautiful ❤️ Music 🎶🎶 Annie is One 🕐 of a kind SOUL STRESS 😬 Will continue listen to her music 🎵🎶 and Videos 📸 Always and Forever ♾️🏆 Happy New Year 🎊🎉 Year ✌️ Stay safe everyone 🙏