Whiter Shade Of Pale
Procol Harum
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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 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 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
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Written by: Gary Brooker, Keith Reid, Matthew Fisher
Lyrics © T.R.O. INC., Onward Music Limited
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
11 facts about this song
Release Date"A Whiter Shade of Pale" was released on 12 May 1967, making it over 50 years old.
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Band Origin"A Whiter Shade of Pale" is by Procol Harum, a British rock band that originated in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England.
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Chart SuccessUpon its release, the song reached number 1 on the UK Singles Chart and stayed there for six weeks. It is one of fewer than 30 singles that have ever sold over 10 million copies worldwide.
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Song InfluenceThe song was inspired by the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. Its melody is influenced by Bach's Cantata No. 140.
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Artistic RecognitionIn 2004, "A Whiter Shade of Pale" was recognized by the Performing Rights Society as the most-played song in public places in the UK over the past 75 years.
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Court CaseThere was a court case regarding the song's authorship. In 2006, former Procol Harum organist Matthew Fisher won a lawsuit that recognized him as a co-writer of the music for the song and entitled him to a percentage of the song’s past and future royalties.
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Lyrics MysteryThe lyrics, written by Keith Reid, have been a source of speculation for many years due to their mysterious and opaque nature.
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Cover VersionsThe song has been covered by numerous artists, including Annie Lennox, Willie Nelson, Eva Cassidy, and Sarah Brightman.
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Cultural ImpactThe song was featured in numerous films, commercials and TV shows, including "The Big Chill", "Helter Skelter", and a memorable Miller beer commercial.
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Band's SuccessAlthough Procol Harum had other successful songs, none reached the iconic status of "A Whiter Shade of Pale".
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Music Awards"A Whiter Shade of Pale" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998. It was one of the few non-American songs to be recognized with this prestigious honor.
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Citation
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"Whiter Shade Of Pale Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 8 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/25698908/Procol+Harum/Whiter+Shade+Of+Pale>.
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