A Whiter Shade Of Pale

I don't know why I'm listening to this tonight. It brings back many memories of my time in the Navy and shortly after I got out. There's a lot of controversy over what it means. I don't know if the band - Procol Harum - has ever come out and said what it means. If you go to "Song Meaning and Facts" you might find something you like. Personally, I think it was written by a guy who just got word he was shipping out in the morning. ... 

This is one of my favorite renditions of Whiter Shade of Pale - Procol Harum performing A Whiter Shade of Pale with the Danish National Concert Orchestra and choir at Ledreborg Castle, Denmark in August 2006. 

As far as hits go, no song could have asked for a bigger success than “A Whiter Shade of Pale”. It came out as part of Procol Harum’s debut album, which itself is entitled Procol Harum. And the track reached number 1 in nearly 15 different countries, including most notably the UK Singles Chart.

After topping the Dutch Top 40 in 1967, it went on to also do the same on the Netherlands’ Single Top 100 in 1972, having also recharted on the UK Singles Chart that year. Additionally it reached number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100, despite receiving limited promotion in the United States.

I never paid much attention to the words until I got out and sober. I just liked the melody. Then I heard it while sitting in my chair one evening, just thinking about stuff and the words started to talk to me.

I remember hearing it on my last night ashore in Alemeda Caifornia, Looking back I realized it’s significance. It was a perfect accompaniment to my last night ashore in the US, on my way to my first WestPac cruse to Vietnam. I was celebrating what could have been my last night in the US. 

“We danced the light fandango, did cartwheels ‘cross the floor….” 

I was celebrating with my fellow shipmates our newfound definition of Manhood. We were Sailors, going to war. 

“I was feeling kind of seasick…”

Then we started thinking about the seriousness of this phase of our life and were beginning to have second thoughts. 

“But the crowd called out for more…”

Come ON, MAN! You’re a HERO! The crowd recognizes where you are going as they gaze at your uniform. They cheer you on! 

“And the room, it started spinning and the ceiling flew away….”

This is a done deal, and I’m GOING and have absolutely no control over this. 

“But they called out for another drink and the Waiter brought the tray…” 

It might be our last night on this earth, so drink up and celebrate this night. 

“And it wasn’t until later when the Miller told his tale, that her face at once just ghostly turned a Whiter shade of pale…” 

It wasn’t until we truly understood where we were going and what we would be doing that the horror of it became clear. And this was long after we’d returned. 

“She said there is no reason, and the truth is plain to see….” 

We arrived there, and realized the insanity of war and the brutal fact that we were a part of it. We were there, trying to kill them, as they tried to kill us, neither truly understanding why. But we were there. This was happening. 

“But I wandered through my playing cards and would not let her be…” 

Unfortunately, war becomes normalized, and a deck of cards represents the chances one takes in its execution. Is tonight the night? Is this my last patrol?

”One of sixteen vestal virgins who were headed for the coast…” 

Could I have decided to go somewhere else? 

“And my eyes were opened wide, though they might as well have been closed….” 

Now I’m starting to see the madness in all of this; the destruction and the terror of it all. But it’s too late. I’m here and I have a duty to perform. 

“And it wasn’t until later when the Miller told his tale, that her face at once just ghostly, turned a Whiter shade of pale….” 

And now I must live with these memories.

As I look back on it, while listening to the music, I realize that I was at that party that so many of us can't get out of our head. You never forget the party beforehand nor the death and destruction afterward. Today I heard that Russia was conscripting all it's men into military service. It's really a sad state for any country to do something like that. We, the US had it in the 60's for Vietnam. The "normal" people rioted in the streets, burned buildings, they beat those who wore the uniform and dumped trash on them. 

Today, over 50 years later, the "normal" people think of Whiter Shade of Pale" as a Blues song. It's good, the present generation doesn't have to live through what we did...But, then again, I can hear my Dad a World War 2 Veteran, saying the same thing. Won't we ever learn?

Sometimes I feel like getting a Whiter Shade of Pale, just to numb my mind, heart and soul to war and it's death and destruction.