This song has been playing in my head for the last four days. When that happens it's usually preceded by something; I hear it on the radio or think about it before I go to sleep. There's a reason for it. This time it just popped in there on it's own.

This time I don't mind. It's one of my favorite songs.

A Whiter Shade of Pale
By
Procol Harum

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)

------------------------------------------------------------------

The verse that follows is an unpublished second verse that never made it onto the record because the record company thought the song was already too long.
Procol Harum included this verse when they performed the song in concert.

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