A Whiter Shade Of Pale
Lana Lane Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

We skipped the light fandango
Turned cartwheels 'cross the floor
I was feeling kind of seasick
The crowd called out for more
The room was humming harder
As the ceiling flew away
When we called out for another drink
The waiter brought a tray

And so it was that later
As the miller told his tale
That her face, at first just ghostly
Turned a whiter shade of pale

She said there is no reason
And the truth is plain to see
But I wandered through my playing cards
Would not let her be
One of sixteen vestal virgins
Who were leaving for the coast
And although my eyes were open
They might just as well've been closed

And so it was that later
As the miller told his tale
That her face, at first just ghostly
Turned a whiter shade of pale





And so it was that later
As the miller told his tale

Overall Meaning

Lana Lane's "A Whiter Shade Of Pale" speaks of a euphoric and dreamlike experience in which the singer and someone else engages in a wild dance, seeming to be flying freely. The lyrics use metaphorical and surreal imagery, describing the experience as if the pair were in a different dimension. The first stanza refers to the singer and their partner dancing and twirling together, feeling the effects of the liquor they consumed. The crowd around them demands more and the waiter obliges, adding to their hazy state. In the second stanza, the focus shifts to the female character, who turns "a whiter shade of pale." The singer then describes a feeling of confusion, as he is unable to break through to her.


The third stanza then takes on an even stranger turn, as the singer claims that the girl he danced with is a "vestal virgin" and was leaving with sixteen others. He can see what is happening, but he also feels blind to it. As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the narrative is steeped in mystical, almost mystical language. Though it is difficult to grasp the meaning of the story that is being told, this song creates an atmosphere of mystery and intrigue that leaves the listener feeling hypnotized.


Line by Line Meaning

We skipped the light fandango
We were dancing in a lively, carefree manner


Turned cartwheels 'cross the floor
We were spinning and flipping on the dance floor


I was feeling kind of seasick
I was feeling dizzy and disoriented from all the dancing


The crowd called out for more
The audience wanted us to keep dancing and entertaining them


The room was humming harder
The atmosphere in the room was becoming more intense and energetic


As the ceiling flew away
We were so caught up in the moment that it felt like the ceiling was disappearing


When we called out for another drink
We asked the waiter for another round of drinks


And so it was that later
Later in the night


As the miller told his tale
As the storyteller began to speak


That her face, at first just ghostly
Her face, which initially looked pale and lifeless


Turned a whiter shade of pale
Turned even paler and more lifeless


She said there is no reason
She claimed there was no explanation


And the truth is plain to see
The truth was obvious


But I wandered through my playing cards
But I was lost in my own thoughts and distractions


Would not let her be
I couldn't stop thinking about her


One of sixteen vestal virgins
One of a group of pure, virgin women


Who were leaving for the coast
Who were starting a new journey or adventure


And although my eyes were open
Even though I was aware and looking around


They might just as well've been closed
I wasn't really seeing or observing anything


And so it was that later
Later in the night


As the miller told his tale
As the storyteller continued to speak


That her face, at first just ghostly
Her face, which initially looked pale and lifeless


Turned a whiter shade of pale
Turned even paler and more lifeless




Contributed by Aaron T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions