A Whiter Shade Of Pale

Johnny Rivers' rendition of 'A Whiter Shade Of Pale' is a hauntingly beautiful song that delves into themes of existential confusion, emotional disarray, and surreal experiences. The lyrics are rich with metaphors and vivid imagery, creating a dreamlike atmosphere that leaves much to interpretation. The opening lines, 'We skipped the light fandango, Turned cartwheels 'cross the floor,' suggest a carefree, almost whimsical beginning, but this quickly shifts as the narrator feels 'kind of seasick,' indicating a sense of disorientation and unease.

The song's chorus, '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,' is particularly enigmatic. The reference to the miller's tale could be an allusion to Chaucer's 'The Canterbury Tales,' where the miller's story is bawdy and chaotic, mirroring the narrator's own tumultuous emotions. The transformation of the woman's face to 'a whiter shade of pale' symbolizes a profound change, possibly indicating a loss of innocence or a realization of a harsh truth.

The second verse deepens the sense of existential crisis. The narrator's wandering through 'playing cards' and the mention of 'sixteen vestal virgins' evoke a sense of searching for meaning in a world that seems arbitrary and indifferent. The vestal virgins, symbols of purity and duty, leaving for the coast could represent a departure from traditional values or a loss of spiritual direction. The narrator's open eyes that 'might just as well've been closed' suggest a state of awareness that is ultimately futile, as if seeing but not comprehending the true nature of reality.