Britain's Favorite Song: 'A Whiter Shade Of Pale'

Procol Harum's "A Whiter Shade of Pale" has just been named Britain's most-played song in public places over the last 75 years.

Matthew Fisher's evocative organ counter-melody lives on in music history despite a legal battle over royalties. While suggestive of Johann Sebastian Bach's "Sleepers Awake" and "Air on a G String", contrary to popular belief, the song is not a direct copy or paraphrase of any particular Bach composition.

Audio: NPR's All Things Considered, April 15th.



Procol Harum - A Whiter Shade Of Pale (1967)
Vocals and piano played by Gary Brooker, Matthew Fisher played the Hammond organ, and the lyrics were written by Keith Reid.

We skipped the light fandango
turned cartwheels 'cross the floor
I was feeling kinda 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

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 have just as well've been closed

For two more verses not included in the recording: http://procolharum.com/w/w9901.htm