A Whiter Shade Of Pale
Procol Harem Lyrics

We skipped the light fandango
We danced lightly in a carefree manner

Turned cartwheels 'cross the floor
Playfully performed gymnastic-like stunts on the floor

I was feeling kinda seasick
I was slightly nauseous

But the crowd called out for more
The audience demanded an encore

The room was humming harder
The atmosphere was becoming more intense

As the ceiling flew away
The feeling of being out of touch with reality set in

When we called out for another drink
We requested more drinks

The waiter brought a tray
The server delivered a tray of drinks

And so it was that later
At a later time

As the miller told his tale
While the storyteller shared his narrative

That her face, at first just ghostly,
Initially, her expression was somewhat pale and indistinct

Turned a whiter shade of pale
Became even paler than before

She said, 'There is no reason
She declared that there was no particular explanation

And the truth is plain to see.'
The reality was evident

But I wandered through my playing cards
I lost myself in my own thoughts

And would not let her be
I refused to let her go

One of sixteen vestal virgins
A reference to a group of chaste and pure women

Who were leaving for the coast
Some women who were departing for a different area

And although my eyes were open
Despite being aware of my surroundings

They might have just as well've been closed
I was blind to what was really happening

She said, 'I'm home on shore leave,'
She claimed to be taking a break from seafaring

Though in truth we were at sea
Despite what she said, we were actually still at sea

So I took her by the looking glass
I led her to a mirror

And forced her to agree
I persuaded her to concede to my assumptions

Saying, 'You must be the mermaid
Suggesting that she was a mythical sea creature

Who took Neptune for a ride.'
Who had a romantic relationship with the sea god

But she smiled at me so sadly
She responded with a mournful smile

That my anger straightway died
That my rage immediately subsided

If music be the food of love
If music is the sustenance of romance

Then laughter is its queen
Genuine joy is even more important

And likewise if behind is in front
In the same way that reversals can occur

Then dirt in truth is clean
Things considered unpleasant can actually be valuable

My mouth by then like cardboard
My speech had become dry and unconvincing

Seemed to slip straight through my head
Felt as though I was losing my mind

So we crash-dived straightway quickly
We suddenly and abruptly dove deeply downwards

And attacked the ocean bed
We forcefully descended towards the ocean floor