BleedingEdge 31
生前のジョン・レノンも、この曲をお気に入りのひとつとして挙げており「人生でベスト3に入る曲」と語っていた。また、発表当時の1967年には「今の音楽業界で、この曲以外は聴く価値がない」とまで言っていた。
日本のポピュラー・ミュージシャンにも影響を与え、松任谷由実はこの曲をきっかけに音楽を自作するようになったという。山下達郎も当時ラジオでこの曲を聴いて、すぐさまレコード・ショップへと走り、購入したその日のうちに100回は聴いたという。
2004年に発表された「ローリング・ストーンの選ぶオールタイム・グレイテスト・ソング500」では第57位にランクインしている。
また、イギリスのBBCラジオ2が2009年に発表した「過去75年UKで最もプレイされた曲トップ10」では第1位に選ばれるなど、本国においても長年に渡り高い人気を誇っている[7]。
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
And the waiter brought a trayAnd so it was that later
As the miller told his tale
That her face, at first just ghostly,
Turned a whiter shade of paleShe said, "There is no reason
And the truth is plain to see."
But I wandered through my playing cards
And they would not let her be
One of sixteen vestal virgins
Who were leaving for the coast
And although my eyes were open wide
They might have just as well been closedAnd so it was that later
As the miller told his tale
That her face, at first just ghostly,
Turned a whiter shade of paleShe said, "I'm here on a shore leave,"
Though we were miles at sea.
I pointed out this detail
And forced her to agree,
Saying, "You must be the mermaid
Who took King Neptune for a ride."
And she smiled at me so sweetly
That my anger straightway died.And so it was that later
As the miller told his tale
That her face, at first just ghostly,
Turned a whiter shade of paleIf music be the food of love
Then laughter is it's queen
And likewise if behind is in front
Then dirt in truth is clean
My mouth by then like cardboard
Seemed to slip straight through my head
So we crash-dived straightway quickly
And attacked the ocean bedAnd so it was that later
As the miller told his tale
That her face, at first just ghostly,
Turned a whiter shade of pale
Read more: Procol Harum - A Whiter Shade Of Pale Lyrics | MetroLyrics