# Procol Harum, a Whiter Shade of Pale

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/procol-harum-a-whiter-shade-of-pale/704966>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [November 18, 2014, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/procol-harum-a-whiter-shade-of-pale/704966 "2014-11-18T16:12:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\
**Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/procol-harum-a-whiter-shade-of-pale/704966/1 "2014-11-18T16:12:30Z")

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From the [lyrics.](http://www.metrolyrics.com/a-whiter-shade-of-pale-lyrics-procol-harum.html)

“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 that a reference to the Canterbury Tales?

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**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\
**Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/procol-harum-a-whiter-shade-of-pale/704966/2 "2014-11-18T16:43:28Z")

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[A recent thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=738712) addressing the song.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\
**Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/procol-harum-a-whiter-shade-of-pale/704966/3 "2014-11-18T16:55:34Z")

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Thanks, scabpicker.

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**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\
**Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/procol-harum-a-whiter-shade-of-pale/704966/4 "2014-11-19T00:44:01Z")

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NP, wish I had more to say 🙂

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**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\
**Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/procol-harum-a-whiter-shade-of-pale/704966/5 "2014-11-19T21:32:28Z")

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I had always assumed it was, until the thread that **scabpicker** linked. I’m slightly disillusioned to find out the truth…

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\
**Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/procol-harum-a-whiter-shade-of-pale/704966/6 "2014-11-19T21:40:36Z")

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> [@jayjay](#):
>
> I had always assumed it was, until the thread that **scabpicker** linked. I’m slightly disillusioned to find out the truth…

“That is beautiful, so meaningful! How did you write it?”  
Musician: “I was stoned out of my gourd.”  
🙂