A Whiter Shade of Pale, in musical terms, was inspired, most especially the continuous instrumental flare which subtends the entire hit, by two compositions of Jean Sébastien Bach.
The song was recorded in 1967 in the Olympic studios London by the group Prokol Harum and, upon release, the song immediately soared to success - hitting the top of the charts in several countries.
The music was composed by Gary Brooker and Matthew Fisher. The lyrics, written by Keith Reid, seemed somewhat esoteric. The sixteen vestal virgins mentioned in the last verse were the priestesses of the Vesta goddess of ancient Rome. During their thirty-year priestly ministry, they took vows of chastity, a symbol of fire purity. The allusion made to them by Keith Reid clearly denotes absolute prurient intentions vis-à-vis his partner...
Let all the lovers who danced this languorous slow throw the first stone on him...
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
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