Procol Harum: "A Whiter Shade of Pale"

Songwriters: Gary Brooker, Keith Reid, and Matthew Fisher; TRO-Essex Music, Inc.

Procol Harum: Gary Brooker (piano & vocal), Matthew Fisher (organ), Ray Royer (guitar), Dave Knight (bass), & Bill Eyden (drums).

Production: Denny Cordell with Keith Grant (engineer) [4:03]

Recorded: Olympic Sound Studios, Barnes, London.

UK release: Deram DM 126, 19 May 1967. Charts 25 May 1967: RR #1.

Section	Meas.	Description	Text
Theme	16	Organ plays theme from Bach-style theme with ensemble accompaniment.	—
Verse	32	Solo voice over ensemble; organ drops in volume.	a
Refrain	16	As above; organ becomes louder.	b
Theme	16	Organ plays theme.	—
Verse	32	As in verse above.	c
Refrain	16	As in refrain above.	b
Theme	16	Organ plays theme with variation.	—
Refrain	*	As in refrain above; fade.	b

Text
We skipped a light fandango. Turned cartwheels cross the floor. I was feeling kinda 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.	a
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.	b
She said there is no reason, and the truth is plain to see. That 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 have been closed.	c