A Whiter Shade Of Pale (original Single Version) Lyrics - Procol Harum

We skipped the light fandango 

turned cartwheels 'cross the floor 

I was feeling kinda seasick 

but 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 

Related 

23 One Hit Wonders You Still Can't Get Out Of Your Head 

From MetroLyrics to You: Our Classic Christmas Playlist 

5 Totally Underrated Christmas Songs 

She 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 

one of sixteen vestal virgins 

who were leaving for the coast 

and although my eyes were open 

they might have just as well've been closed 

She said, 'I'm home on shore leave,' 

though in truth we were at sea 

so I took her by the looking glass 

and forced her to agree 

saying, 'You must be the mermaid 

who took Neptune for a ride.' 

But she smiled at me so sadly 

that my anger straightway died 

Photos 

If music be the food of love [see note, left, about this verse + its opening] 

then laughter is its queen 

and likewise if behind is in front 

then dirt in truth is clean 

My mouth by then like cardboard 

seemed to slip straight through my head 

So we crash-dived straightway quickly 

and attacked the ocean bed 

The two verses printed here in green are not both available on any official record but they have quite often been heard in concert.