What is "Whiter Shade of Pale" about?*

Does anyone know what this song is about?

 

it's about what all the other ones are about man. Gettin' it in.

 

If you're talking about sexually speaking, you're right!

 

I think it is more about "like dude, don't bogart that, role another up and pass it on this time".
The 60s was a great time for substance inspired fantasy world lyrics.

 

Not sure but it's got one magical haunting vibe for sure.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Whiter_Shade_of_Pale

 

It's art - and art does not necessarily need to have a defined meaning.

 

Well, I've personally experienced:
" The room was humming harder As the ceiling flew away"
"And although my eyes were open They might have just as well've been closed"

Certainly something experienced while tripping on drugs, along with surrealistic visions akin to a Dali painting.

It would seem the lyrics draw from several wells of inspiration most likely from books and historical writings, especially the Vestal Virgins part is easy to find.

In the end it draws from several influences all coming together paint a lovely scene musically and lyrically.

 

About twenty years ago I got it from the horse's mouth(so to speak)when Gary Brooker asked me(!!) what I thought it was about,and I answered:"It's about getting drunk",and he nodded and just said:"Exactly"!

 

I remember reading that Paul & John? heard it in a club and loved it - initially they thought it was Stevie Winwood

 

The truth is plain to see.

 

Various pages with speculation here:

http://www.procolharum.com/awsoplyrics.htm

 

The original full lyric with the 2 extra verse makes the sexual theme more explicit. The single is more more open to interpretation, and probably better for it.

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

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

If music be the food of love
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 Miller told his tale" is clearly a Chaucer reference. I always pictured the strange goings-on in the song taking place aboard a ship(Maybe I took the "Seasick" line a bit too literally). On the back cover of the album it's on (US version on Deram), it says, "To be listened to in the spirit in which it was made." When the room starts humming and the ceiling flies away, I begin to wonder just what that "spirit" was.

 

I am pretty sure it is "ghosty",not "ghostly".

 

Why would it be 'Ghosty'?

 

That was Paul & Linda.

John was also a big admirer of the song and famously used to play it on a record player in his Rolls Royce.

When they wanted to shoot a promo video for the song, they made an appointment for the group at some exclsuive Carnaby Street clothing store. When they arrived, they found John, George and Ringo standing behind Paul seated at a harmonium and singing the song.

 

Because they are the proper words...

 

The writer of the song has stated that it is just a bunch of random phrases thrown together, but on other occasions, has stated that it is loosely about social alienation.

Who knows? It just sounds good.

Many times, songwriters will change the meaning of lyrics, or dance around any true meaning.

 

Whiter Shade of Pale....seasick....leaving for the coast....it always struck me as being about sailing and Sailors.

 

Probably most songwriters say something similar, to avoid having to explain what they've written.

 

How do you know? Not trying to be cheeky, I've just never seen it written that way, plus it sounds like 'ghostly' to me. The fansite I took that lyric from has it as 'ghostly' and that's part of a meticulously researched page on the song, so would need some more evidence before I was convinced of 'ghosty'.

 

It's about people and life. Don't get bogged down by specifics mannnnn!

 

I don't see that. It sounds like he got drunk, wanted one of the women, and tried to take her forcibly, and changed his mind.

As far as the other two verses not appearing in the recorded product, maybe it was just an artistic decision, and a wise one, at that.