A WHITER SHADE OF PALE
GARY BROOKER-KEITH REID
WE SKIPPED THE LIGHT FANDANGO,
TURNED CARTWHEELS ‘CROSS THE FLOOR
I WAS FEELING KIND OF SEA-SICK
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 PLAYNG 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 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