Procol Harum - A Whiter Shade Of Pale

PROCOL HARUM

A WHITER SHADE OF PALE (2001)

  1. A Whiter Shade Of Pale
  2. Conquistador
  3. Salad Days (Are Here Again)
  4. A Salty Dog
  5. Shine On Brightly
  6. The Milk Of Human Kindness
  7. She Wandered Through The Garden Fence
  8. Quite Rightly So
  9. Too Much Between Us
10. Kaleidoscope
11. The Devil Came From Kansas
12. Pilgrims Progress
13. Mabel
14. Homburg
15. Repent Walpurgis

PROCOL HARUM

A WHITER SHADE OF PALE

1. A WHITER SHADE OF PALE

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

And so it was that later.

2. CONQUISTADOR

Conquistador, your stallion stands
In need of company
And like some angel's haloed brow
You reek of purity
I see your armour-plated breast
Has long-since lost its sheen
And in your death-masked face
There are no signs which can be seen
Though I hope for something to find
I can see no place to unwind

Conquistador, a vulture sits
Upon your silver shield
And in your rusty scabbard now
The sand has taken seed
And though your jewel-encrusted blade
Has not been plundered still
The sea has washed across your face
Taken of its fill
Though I hope for something to find
I can see no place to unwind

Conquistador, there is no time
I must pay my respect
And though I came to jeer at you
I leave now with regret
And as the gloom begins to fall
I see there is no, only all
Though you came with sword held high
You did not conquer, only die
Though I hope for something to find
I can see no place to unwind
Though I hope for something to find
I can see no place to unwind

Though I hope for something to find
I can see no place to unwind.

3. SALAD DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN

You come to me at midnight and say: "It's dark in here"
You know you robbed me of my sight and light is what I fear
I tell you that I cannot see, but you persist in showing me
Those bangles that I paid for long ago
And though my face is smiling I'm really feeling low
Though you say you're with me I know that it's not so

Your skin crawls up an octave, your teeth have lost their gleam
The peaches snuggle closer down into the clotted cream
And for some unknown reason my watch begins to chime
And though I beg and plead with you, you tell me it's not time
And though my face is smiling I'm really feeling low
Though you say you're with me I know that it's not so

The sun seeps through the window to see if we're still dead
To try to throw some light upon the gloom around our bed
At quarter past the doorbell rings, the water faucet drips and sings
Still my reason will not rhyme and still you tell me it's not time
And though my face is smiling I'm really feeling low
Though you say you're with me I know that it's not so

You really know that it’s so.

4. A SALTY DOG

"All hands on deck, we've run afloat!"
I heard the captain cry
"Explore the ship, replace the cook
Let no one leave alive!"
Across the straits, around the Horn
How far can sailors fly?
A twisted path, our tortured course
And no one left alive

We sailed for parts unknown to man
Where ships come home to die
No lofty peak nor fortress bold
Could match our captain's eye
Upon the seventh seasick day
We made our port of call
A sand so white and sea so blue
No mortal place at all

We fired the gun and burnt the mast
And rowed from ship to shore
The captain cried, we sailors wept
Our tears were tears of joy
Now many moons and many Junes
Have passed since we made land
A salty dog, this seaman's log
Your witness my own hand.

5. SHINE ON BRIGHTLY

My Prussian-blue electric clock's
Alarm bell rings, it will not stop
And I can see no end in sight
And search in vain by candlelight
For some long road that goes nowhere
For some signpost that is not there
And even my befuddled brain
Is shining brightly, quite insane

The chandelier is in full swing
As gifts for me the three kings bring
Of myrrh and frankincense, I'm told
And fat old Buddha's carved in gold
And though it seems they smile with glee
I know in truth they envy me
And watch as my befuddled brain
Shines on brightly quite insane

Above all else confusion reigns
And though I ask no-one explains
My eunuch friend has been and gone
He said that I must soldier on
And though the Ferris wheel spins round
My tongue it seems has run aground
And croaks as my befuddled brain
Shines on brightly, quite insane
Shine on
Shine on
Shine on.

6. THE MILK OF HUMAN KINDNESS

When you knew that I had given all the kindness that I had
Did you think that it might be time to stop?
When you knew that I was through
That I'd done all I could do
Did you really have to milk the final drop?

Not content with my mistake you behaved just like a snake
And you left me for a wasp without a sting
Tell all the folks back home that I did it on his own
And that to their well-worn cares they should cling

When you knew that I had given all the kindness that I had
Did you feel you had to break that lonely vow?
When you knew that I was through
That I'd done all I could do
Did you really have to sow that final plough?

Not content with my mistake you behaved just like a snake
And you left me for a wasp without a sting
Tell all the folks back home that he did it on his own
And that to their well-worn cares they should cling.

7. SHE WANDERED THROUGH THE GARDEN FENCE

She wandered through the garden fence
Said: "I've brought at great expense
A potion guaranteed to bring
Relief from all your suffering"
And though I said: "You don't exist"
She grasped me firmly by the wrist
And threw me down upon my back
And strapped me to her torture rack

And without further argument
I found my mind was also bent
Upon a course so devious
It only made my torment worse

She said: "I see you cannot speak
Is it your voice that is too weak?
Is it your tongue that is to blame?
Maybe you cannot speak for shame
Or has your brain been idle too
Now it will not think for you?"
I hastened to make my reply
But found that I could only lie

Like a fool I believed myself
And thought I was somebody else
But she could see what I was then
And left me on my own again

Like a fool I believed myself
And thought I was somebody else
But she could see what I was then
And left me on my own again

She wandered through the garden fence
Said: "I've brought at great expense
A potion guaranteed to bring
Relief from all your suffering"
And though I said: "You don't exist"
She grasped me firmly by the wrist
And threw me down upon my back
And strapped me to her torture rack

And without further argument
I found my mind was also bent
Upon a course so devious
It only made my torment worse.

8. QUITE RIGHTLY SO

For you whose eyes were opened wide
Whilst mine refused to see
I'm sore in need of saving grace
Be kind and humour me
I'm lost amidst a sea of wheat
Where people speak but seldom meet
And grief and laughter, strange but true
Although they die, they seldom cry

An ode by any other name
I know might read more sweet
Perhaps the sun will never shine
Upon my field of wheat
But still in closing, let me say
For those too sick, yeah, too sick to see
Though nothing shows, yes, someone knows
I wish that one was me

Yeah

An ode by any other name
I know might read more sweet
Perhaps the sun will never shine
Upon my field of wheat
But still in closing, let me say
For those too sick, too sick to see
Though nothing shows, yes, someone knows
I wish that one was me

Though nothing shows, yes, someone knows
I wish that one was me

Though nothing shows, yes, someone knows.

9. TOO MUCH BETWEEN US

There's you, you're sleeping over there
Whilst me I'm sitting here
With so much sea between us
I can't make it much more clear
There'll be no time for crying
We won't make it more than six
I could change my plea to guilty
But I don't think it would stick
Still those other ratings far too easy to despise
You've said so much in silence now I truly am disguised

Let him who fears his heart alone
Stand up and make a speech
For him perhaps an emperor's throne
If he could only speak
Far too few and far to follow
For shame I'll heed the cry
Be with me when I need a drink
Be with me when I die
Still those other ratings far too easy to despise
You've said so much in silence now indeed I am disguised.

10. KALEIDOSCOPE

Jostle, hassle, elbow bustle
In a swirling rainbow tussle
Caught and frozen, broken sheen
Now unites for one brief scene

Lonely in the dark I grope
The key's in my kaleidoscope

Confused faces change their places
Take up stances, exchange glances
Lost in multicoloured hues
There is no whole which I can choose

Lonely in the dark I grope
The key's in my kaleidoscope

In one face, one moment's fusion
Realise the new illusion
Clutching fingers break the puzzle
Jostle, hassle, elbow bustle

Still out in the dark I grope
The key's in my kaleidoscope.

11. THE DEVIL CAME FROM KANSAS

The devil came from Kansas, where he went to I can't say
Though I teach I'm not a preacher and I aim to stay that way
There's a monkey riding on my back, been there for some time
He says he knows me very well, but he's no friend of mine

I am not a humble pilgrim
There's no need to scrape and squeeze
And don't beg for silver paper
When I'm trying to sell you cheese

The devil came from Kansas, where he went to I can't say
If you really are my brother then you'd better start to pray
For the sins of those departed and the ones about to go
There's a dark cloud just above us, don't tell me 'cause I know

I am not a humble pilgrim
There's no need to scrape and squeeze
And don't beg for silver paper
When I'm trying to sell you cheese

No, I never came from Kansas, don't forget to thank the cook
Which reminds me of my duty: I was lost and now I look
For the turning and the signpost and the road which takes you down
To that pool inside the forest in whose waters I shall drown

I am not a humble pilgrim
There's no need to scrape and squeeze
And don't beg for silver paper
When I'm trying to sell you cheese.

12. PILGRIMS PROGRESS

I sat me down to write a simple story
Which maybe in the end became a song
In trying to find the words which might begin it
I found these were the thoughts I brought along

At first I took my weight to be an anchor
I gathered up my fears to guide me round
But then I clearly saw my own delusion
And found my struggles further bogged me down

In starting out I thought to go exploring
And set my foot upon the nearest road
In vain I looked to find the promised turning
But only saw how far I was from home

In searching I forsook the paths of learning
And sought instead to find some pirate's gold
In fighting I did hurt those dearest to me
And still no hidden truths could I unfold

I sat me down to write a simple story
Which maybe in the end became a song
The words have all been writ by one before me
We're taking turns in trying to pass them on
Oh, we're taking turns in trying to pass them on.

13. MABEL

Don't eat green meat, it ain't good for you
Killed your brother, killed your sister too
Even fresh fried chicken on new-mown sand
Can't beat red beans eaten outa your hand

Oh Mabel, Mabel! You know I love you, gal, but I'm not able
Mabel, oh Mabel, please get off the kitchen table

Don't slice no onions, don't peel no grape
Dream about banana slice nor sniff around short cake
And if on a winter's day you find your sundial's wrong
You'll know the weather is what's brought it on

Oh Mabel, Mabel! You know I love you, gal, but I'm not able
Mabel, oh Mabel, please get off the kitchen table

Put the peas in the pot, put the pot on the hot
In the cellar lies my wife, in my wife there's a knife
So tote that hammer, lift that pick
Banish inhibition with a pogo stick

Oh Mabel, Mabel! You know I love you, gal, but I'm not able
Mabel, oh Mabel, please get off the kitchen table.

14. HOMBURG

Your multilingual business friend
Has packed her bags and fled
Leaving only ash-filled ashtrays
And the lipsticked unmade bed
The mirror on reflection
Has climbed back upon the wall
For the floor she found descended
And the ceiling was too tall

Your trouser cuffs are dirty
And your shoes are laced up wrong
You'd better take off your homburg
'Cause your overcoat is too long

The town clock in the market square
Stands waiting for the hour
When its hands they both turn backwards
And on meeting will devour
Both themselves and also any fool
Who dares to tell the time
And the sun and moon will shatter
And the signposts cease to sign

Your trouser cuffs are dirty
And your shoes are laced up wrong
You'd better take off your homburg
'Cause your overcoat is too long

Your trouser cuffs are dirty
And your shoes are laced up wrong
You'd better take off your homburg
'Cause your overcoat is too long

Your trouser cuffs are dirty
And your shoes are laced up wrong
You'd better take off your homburg
'Cause your overcoat is too long.

15. REPENT WALPURGIS
Instrumental

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