A Whiter Shade Of Pale

Annie Lennox

We skipped the light Fandango


Turned cartwheels 'cross the floor


I was feeling kind of 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





------ organ solo ------





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 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.... (fade)





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There is an unpublished second verse


that they included in concerts:





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 straight 'way died