Whiter SHade of Pale

[muppy1100]

WHAT A GOOD LOOKING OLDER MAN !!!!

[nicolman1]

Shade of Pale !!!

[dancinggirl75]

Thank you @reamann109 for those words. It is a most beautiful song, and you seem to be a very beautiful minded person to reply to @jakealg the way you did. I think, no matter what the words to a song mean, if it's pretty, it's pretty to the soul. I lost my mom and dad in '95, and every time I hear The Masquerade is Over, I miss her more. Keeping memories alive with some songs, is what keeps some of us moving on. Thanks again, and may God bless you.

[reamann109]

@dancinggirl75 We gain so much in our lives through the years it is sometimes hard to give them back. We loose so much through out a life time be thankful for what we had and not want for what we don't. Music will keep them in touch as we pass through the years a simple song can envoke the presences and memories we hold close to our hearts. Strange how that works I only wish that I had written this song So I will keep trying Good Cheers and God Bless and keep dancing!

[dancinggirl75]

I was looking at an old "Cold Case" TV show, and this song played at the end of the show.

I never knew what the song was about, but always thought it was so beautiful, and beautifully sung. I heard it back in 1967, and never heard it since. What a song.

[reamann109]

@dancinggirl75 I first heard this song in 67ish my friends band played it. I will never forget where I was that song has marked many high points in my life. Never have i ever heard it played so well as in this clip. Gary Booker sings it as if it were 1967. Procol Harem origtinally wrote and produced this song on an LP and it remains one of the greatest of all times. This is my opinion I believe shared by many. Glad you got to hear it again that's why it is there. Enjoy

Ringo's son plays drums 2

[toonpels]

@jakealg Alsnog mijn deelneming...

[TENRECORDS]

Oh my god, how good is this live version, it makes me shiver, what amazing vocals take note modern bands this is the guy you should emulate.

[vigil12348]

That`s the answer to a fundamental question: Is it possible for a guy to sing a song in the same tone and hight of voice as he sung it 40 years ago. And the answer is: Gary Brooker!

[Pkr]

Brilliant... best ever!  Reamann you did good....

[reamann109]

I am sorry for your loss. ALthough thid dong id jighly debated on it's meaning I just like it regardless of what the meaning may be. It is our soul and the eye of the beholder after all which brings beauty from art. It is hard I know to loose someoneyou love and you will find that life is a series of loses and of many many new and exicting finds....Keep you nans' memorey with you and remember the best of times. Good to hear from you you are a freind of mine.

[cammdwg]

Who cares. It touches your heart and if someone you loved, was so fond of it as well, then it is so so important. It's about what you feel when you hear it . Don't ruin it for the rest of us jbase44. Were you there?

[jbase44]

right, miller tale is he's making up stuff to persuade her to have sex with him (Chaucer)

[jbase44]

"we skipped the light fandango" means we sailed a lightweight ship.

as for vestal virgins. For commitiing adultery a vestal virgin (in Rome) would be buried alive. I think that girl slept with the guy and she turned very pale because she was afraid of punishment that would come (e.g. from her parents etc)

[alexpong0]

ça c' est magnifique !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jmitchB3]

My favorite song. But the keyboardist really lacks charisma. They should have had a real B3 in there and flip the Leslie to tremolo at the climax ("and so it was..."). Ol' Gary can still belt it out!

[zoombah2007]

I don't know the fellow playing organ in this song, but he is evidently a member of the London pop orchestra. Probably trained at the Royal Academy. His abilities are equal to those of Matthew Fisher, the pianist of the original band Procol Harum. It's not his job to upstage Gary Brooker.

[jmitchB3]

Matthew Fisher was the organist in Procol Harum, not the pianist. Gary Brooker was the pianist. In the original version, the organ is much more lively, yet Brooker is not "upstaged." It can be done... it just wasn't done here, despite the keyboardist's talents. And I'm sure the keyboardist was just sticking to the arrangement that was laid out. I still feel it lacks charisma.

[Karatecookie]

My Jimmy will listen to this over and over, all day somedays...It makes me sad to think she is so dreaming of her past........

[mudrocker]

Simply stunning !

[eternalwarmth]

I was eight years old when this song hit the charts. Now I'm 49 and got acquainted with this song when the movie THE NET was shown. I never knew it would capture my liking like it did with John Lennon. On a daily basis, I play this song whenever I take a break with my work. I'm still not tired of hearing the same song. Great melody with cryptic lyrics.

[THEMOJOMANsince1959]

Fantastic,,I'll bet when as young guys,when they wrote this they never in their wildest dreams did they think THIS SONG would live ON&ON&ON. AND GARY STILL EXPRESSES IT WELL. SO FINE,SO FINE, TOO MUCH,, OUTA SIGHT.

[superslammer]

Does anyone know what this video is from? A DVD or something?

[rogeriocukierman]

It´s a DVD called The British Rock Simphony and it´s fantastic. They play music from the Beatles, Led Zeppelin ( Stairway to heaven), Rolling Stones, The Who, etc. It features Alice Coopeer, Roger Daltrey.... Rogerio Cukierman

[cammdwg]

this is one of the very best videos of Procol Hareum, the sound, outstanding!!!!!******

[THEMOJOMANsince1959]

ACTUALLY THIS IS NOT "PROCOL HARUM" it's GARY BROOKER with a fantastic symphony orchestra. IN ENGLAND

[cammdwg]

I really did know this is the Gary Brooker. I have watched all of the videos with anything he was in. I just adore him and the sound. The group or band is Procol Harum. Thanks. You can send me info anytime.

[marcelocanadea]

Que canción!!!!!!por Dios.Excelente tema , basado en la obra de JS Bach..la versión que hacen con la London Symphonic Orchestra la recomiendo ya que es fantástica y el disco tambien..viene bajo el título:"The Long Goodbye"..memorable.

[LuukeeX]

He's like a wine. Older -> Better. Greetings to all the people who like them

[33826567977]

una convinacion perfecta entre instrumentos y voz que hacen de esta cancion una de mis preferidas , exelente voz ,asi mismo todo el equipo que esta detras del interprete.dicen que los grandes musicos hacen al artista ,pero a mi manera de pensar ambas partes estan a la par

[marfilipak]

Todos os versos me remetem à minha adolescência, à juventude, ao amor, enfim, toda a alegria daquela época mas, a amargura de ver tantos amigos se deixando levar pelas drogas e terminar como nos versos da música.Saudades, muitas saudades...

[valentin20001]

BEAUTIFUL SONG!!

[sido7000]

Divine music!

[mara235]

Get over the analysis of the lyrics and just enjoy the song..

[glassgremlin]

I'll do whatever I want here, thanks.

[mara235]

and so won't I - that's what makes this such a great place.

[bcool2345]

i'd like such an analysis actually, where can i find one?

[reamann109]

it was filmed in England around 1998? not sure on that you can find it on one of those great british orcrastra video's ? Can't remember really where I found it.

[glassgremlin]

Interesting to read the analysis on a smoking version of this cryptic, timeless classic.

[infojunkie2]

Final comment in this series: In the previous 30 posts or so, you have found probably the most complete and balanced discussion of the meaning of WSoP you will ever see, unless the writers speak and reveal. Many other essays at: procolharum dot com slash awsoplyrics dot htm -- (Go to oldest comments to see the excellent and short original comments and one from the poster.) THE END

[infojunkie2]

To top everythng off, the music is derived in part from a Bach piece 300+ years old. For an intelligent discussion of this seach google for "Bernard S. Greenberg Bach Whiter Shade of Pale web archive" and the second comment in the Minnesota public radio site that should come up first -- will give you the link. Next -- final comment above.

[infojunkie2]

I suspect the 2nd missing verse here, like the mermaid verse, does not quite fit perfectly with the two verses used in the 1967 hit version. In any case, the perhaps unintended "genius" of the lyrics is that they invite everyone in to insert their own life and meanings, however vaguely or specifically. Now, one more post about the music itself. Next (above)

[infojunkie2]

Some suggest that the "crash dived . . . and attacked the ocean bed" is the end of the drunken/drugged party in an ignominious one night stand, before both move on in separate paths . . . . My own guess is that it means the relationship the guy was seeking "crashed", "sunk" etc. due to unavoidable commitments and circumstances; this may have been a "tragedy" in light of what might have been for the two. Next (above)

[infojunkie2]

This verse would be stronger evidence for the "drug overdose" interpretation crowd than the mermaid verse. The first two lines are a take off on Shakespeare. The next two sound like despair "if behind is front, then dirt in truth is clean". This sounds like a cursing out of the ultimiate affect of drugs. The last lines are interpreted as variously . . . dying from a drug overdose, . . . passing out from drugs or alcohol . . . or the aborting of the budding relationship the guy was seeking. Next

[infojunkie2]

Here's the 2nd missing verse: "If music be the food of love, then laughter is its queen, and likewise if behind's 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."

Let consider the meaning. See Next (above)

[infojunkie2]

So I don't believe the "fatal overdose" interpretation holds up when all is considered. The "the guy-gal relationship that was frustrated from developing" fits better and easier all the way around. It is highly likely that the lyricist primarily liked words that sounded good. It is known he would throw different paragraphs on the song writer's desk. So maybe verses 1 and 2 don't quite match up in meaning the mermaid verse. Which brings us to the 2nd missing verse. Next (above)

[infojunkie2]

This makes the "wandered through my playing cards" line and much else virtually meaningless. It also switches the drug problem to the girl, even though it's the guy who says the line which the former drug addicts say screams "addiction", i.e. "and though my eyes were open . . . have been closed." Next (above)

[infojunkie2]

On the contrary, the "drug overdose" crowd hears: "I would not let her be one of sixteen vestil virgins headed for the coast." End of complete thought. In other words, by pushing drugs on her, the guy unintentionally caused the fatal overdose. I think this tortures both the words and the way Brooker sings it. Next (above)

[infojunkie2]

Those who see in the words a drug overdose meaning -- divide the one line differently: Where most hear: "I wandered through my playing cards, and would not let her be." End of thought. Then, new thought: "She was one of sixteen vestal virgins, headed for the coast." End of thought. Next (above)

[Meowbay]

In fact, both my parents insist they were known as clean kids back then. This had nothing to do with drugs, and wasn't written during a high, it was just an attempt at being original and different, according to my mother (who herself used some weed at the time, but not much). I was born a year before this song was released..

[infojunkie2]

The sinking of the ship and death of "all aboard" can much better denote all the possibilities (for their mutual life ahead) that "died" when the girl stops the development of the relationship. Each person filling in the remembrance of their own experience, however, grandiose or unrealistic -- or realistic -- were one's perceptions at the time, -- gives the song the universal appeal. Next (above)

[infojunkie2]

And the clincher: some of these guys had this song played at their weddings -- hardly logical if the song is simply about a tragic drug overdose. The mermaid much better represents a girl who must call a halt to the development of the relationship the guy was seeking, but, does it so gently and nicely, that any anger the guy started to feel -- straighway died. Next (above)

[infojunkie2]

For instance, the lyricist revealed he had heard a guy say this at a party to a girl who was pale. The missing verse about the mermaid, which sheds light on the meaning, is about a total ship that is doomed with all the sailors to die; there is never an accidental drug overdose of everyone at a party; . . Next (Above);

[infojunkie2]

Obstacles to the drug overdose interpretation: 1) the lyricist has revealed that he heard the phrase at a party, said by a guy to a girl who was pale. The mermaid analogy would not fit -- as she is heralding the imminent demise of the entire ship, with death of all aboard; there is never an accidental drug overdose of all the people at a party. Next (above)

[infojunkie2]

A miller is a bug that turns to white powder when smashed (representing cocaine), - therefore, "As the miller (cocaine) told his tale" then "he face at first just ghostly, turned a whiter shade of pale", denotes the cocaine inducing overdose and death. "She (the mermaid) said there is no reason" for the death, i.e., a nihilstic meaning of life, i.e. life has no meaning in the overall, and so on. But there are fatal obstacles to this interpretation. Next (above).

[infojunkie2]

The other often brought up interpretation of the mermaid verse is that it is a drug trip gone bad, ending in a fatal overdose. I will state shortly why this does not fit, but here are the persuasive reasons advanced: whiter shade of pale describes a corpse better than anything else; "and though my eyes were open, they might as well have been closed" is the very description of addiction, some former drug addicts argue . . . Next (above)

[infojunkie2]

This missing verse about the mermaid hints at the deeper meaning. The mermaid is the girl in the song, who must bring the attempted relationship the guy is trying to initiate to and end. Why? No interest? Little interest? Intense interest precluded by a prior commitment? Some interest, but circumstances which prevent any development of the relationship. This melancholy hits a universal chord in the angst of growing up. Everyone fills in his own meaning. Next (above).

[infojunkie2]

"Saying you must be the mermaid, who took Neptune for a ride." This is what he said to her as he forced her to agree at the mirror -- he knows who she is, and is understandably rebelling against his imminent fate. "But she smiled at me so sadly, that my anger straightway died." Seeing that the mermaid really likes him, and can do nothing more than she is doing, the sailor-singer's anger ceases, and he accepts his unavoidable fate. Next (above).

[infojunkie2]

Next line in first missing verse: "And forced her to agree." Angry at the ship's imminent demise, the sailor forces her to agree who she it. (In the version posted by wbdsr1 -- where Brooker sings this missing verse, he seems to flub the line, and says, "Would not let her breathe", probably accidentally starting to sing the line from the other verses, "Would not let her be". Next (above).

[infojunkie2]

2nd line: "But in truth we were at sea." The singer is not so drunk that he doesn't begin to realize something is amiss. It hits him that the mermaid is the harbinger of death for the ship and the sailors. "So I took her by the looking glass." Looking glass means "mirror", and the sailor shows her that she is getting pale, as she needs to return to the sea soon, as a mermaid needs water to live for long periods of time, not air. Next (above).

[infojunkie2]

First line of first missing verse: "She said I'm home on shore leave." The mermaid has come aboard because the ship is imminently about to sink, and her job is to make the death of the sailors as painless as possible. Here, in mid-party, as the soldiers are getting drunker, she slips up. For being on the deck of the ship is 'shore leave' for a mermaid, who the rest of her life must stay in the sea. Next (above).

[infojunkie2]

By the way, you can view a live performance of Gary Brooker singing this verse by searching on YouTube for "Whiter Shade of Pale - Procul Harum" -- make sure it's posted by wbdsr1) -- Now we'll look at the literal meaning of the first missing verse, and then its possible figurative meaning. Next (above).

[infojunkie2]

According to some, the mermaid is Neptune's daughter in Roman myth, and she would board ships destined to imminently sink, and have fun dancing and would get the soldiers drunk, so that their imminent death would be less painful. The credible attempts to explain this verse are that it represents the imminent wreck of the relationship that could not be, or the imminent bad result of the drug trip. Next (next means above in YouTube running commentaries).

[infojunkie2]

First missing verse: "She said she was on shore leave. But in truth we were at sea. So I took her by the looking glass, and forced her to agree. 'You must be the mermaid, that took Neptune for a ride.' Then she smiled at me so sadly, that my anger straightway died." This verse has a literal meaning, but also must have a deeper figurative meaning. Next.

[infojunkie2]

The two missing verses lead people to speculate that the song is really about: a strong attraction that can go nowhere because of a prior commitment the girl has, . . . a typical awkward moment where the young guy is attracted to the girl, but she shows not much interest in him, . . . a drug trip gone bad, . . . and even a death from a drug overdose. And a few "way out there" meanings. Next.

[infojunkie2]

And this brings us to the two missing verses, not used in the 1967 hit due to the time limits of radio play time, and because the producer thought they didn't exactly fit the meaning of the first two verses. Gary Brooker (singer) and Keith Reid (lyricist) reveal so little about what the words to this song mean, that the only word which comes to mind is: stonewalling. Like Don McLean and his "American Pie", those behind "Whiter Shade of Pale" just aren't saying. Next.

[infojunkie2]

The last few comments delineate the literal meaning of these two verses used in the 1967 hit single version. Everything fits very nicely, and the epic language, as well as the drama with which Gary Brooker sings the lines, indicates that, despite the mundane situation being literally described, that there is a lot more behind the lyrics. Next.

[infojunkie2]

"And although my eyes were open, they might just as well have been closed." The guy is saying to himself, in the face of this mild rebuff from the girl he is interested in, that it didn't do him any good to notice what was plainly evident, that she was turning pale. Then the chorus is repeated. Next.

[infojunkie2]

"She said there is no reason." The girl tells the singer there is no particular reason she has turned pale. "And the truth was plain to see." The guy wants to press the point: "And I wandered through my playing cards, . . . would not let her be" -- the singer wants to keep the conversation going because she is "One of sixteen vestal virgins, who were leaving for the coast." Again, the epic language, this time from Roman life and mythology, makes the song seem bigger than life. Next.

[infojunkie2]

"And her face at first just ghostly, turned a white shade of pale." The singer notices that a girl, presumably one he is interested in, has become pale -- but uses the convoluted term "whiter shade of pale." Lyrics writer Keith Reid has revealed that he actually heard a guy say this to a girl at a party circa late 1966. He liked the line so much he started building this song around it, and says he wishes he would have said it originally himself. Next.

[infojunkie2]

"And so a while later, as the miller told his tale" here is the epic language entering, from Chaucer; this seems to be a spoof on the pomposity of many college and post college age kids in the late sixties. The "miller told his tale" means that story telling and conversation is filling in the gaps not mentioned in the lyrics in the hit version, and that line denoted a bawdy, raucous party in Chaucer. Next.

[infojunkie2]

"The room was humming harder, as the ceiling flew away" -- and now we find out this is not only a booze drenched party, but also a drug-infested party, so typical of second half of the sixties (this song came out in 1967). "When we called out for another drink, the waiter brought a tray." This line is obvious, go to next.

[infojunkie2]

"I was feeling kind of seasick" -- the guy has already had two much alcohol and he is feeling seasick after this energetic dance. (The song is told from the guy's perspective.) "But the crowd called out for more" -- the party goers loved the dance and wanted them to keep going. Go to next.

[infojunkie2]

line by line analysis, literal meaning: "We skipped the light fandango" -- guy and girl dance an energetic spanish dance for the crowd at the wild party; "Turned cartwheels across the floor" -- they were really dancing! -- or the guy showed off and turned literal handstand cartwheels across the floor -- go to next.

[infojunkie2]

Part 3 of 3: "as the miller told his tale" is Chaucer language, used to denote a bawdy, raucaus party. Here it denotes the party conversation which fills in the gaps between the other lines. The girl is headed for a vacation with other girl friends to California the next day, i.e., "one of Sixteen vestal virgins headed for the coast". The missing verses suggest all kinds of things, but are vague enough to allow everyone to keep filling in their own meanings.

[infojunkie2]

Part two of three: The larger appeal of the song, which is made explicit in the two verses not used in the hit song, is that there is something unresolved in the relationship of the guy to the gal. There are many essays commenting on this. If you search "Procol Harum lyrics meaning" you will find essays on this. See part three of three.

[infojunkie2]

Part one of three: The literal meaning of the two verses in the hit version of this song is a guy at a wild 1960s party telling a girl that she looks pale. The song spoofs how serious the "sixties" generation took itself by couching this mundane interchange and the party itself in epic language from Chaucer and Roman mythology. See part two.

[Twostory]

Gary Brooker - so fine!

[stevenoc]

Absolutly brillient

[Sixchomp]

Great live version of the song. I never imagined a symphony could make the song that much better.

[thecheeta]

Pity they didn't use a real Hammond...

[chazzjazz]

pity he didnt play the other 2 verses...would have been awesome

[plainwain]

What a rendition of the ol Procol Harum classic. Bravo!

[kenja75]

Allow me to retort...that gave and still gives me cold chills...i love it!!!!!!!

[Reamann]

It is a great tune no one knows exactly what the song is about but everyone understands! Glad to hear you are chilled!

[TranGiaLoc]

Thanks for uploading this wonderful song !