What is the light fandango? (BBC disects A Whiter Shade of Pale)

BBC News ^ | Tuesday, 14 November 2006, 11:47 GMT | Alan Connor

[weegee]

Rock and Roll PING! email Weegee to get on/off this list (or grab it yourself to PING the rest)

[Tijeras_Slim]

Ping me when they figure out the low spark of high heeled boys.

[weegee]

"Only time will tell if we stand the test of time" - Van Halen

[theDentist]

A Whiter Shade of Pale - Procol Harum

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
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 have just as well've been closed

She said, 'I'm home on shore leave,'
though in truth we were at sea
so I took her by the looking glass
and forced her to agree
saying, 'You must be the mermaid
who took Neptune for a ride.'
But she smiled at me so sadly
that my anger straightway died

If music be the food of love
then laughter is its 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 bed

[Anselma]

I'm busy with the pompatous of love.

[weegee]

"I am the Eggman, they are the Eggmen, I am the Walrus, koo koo kachoo." - The Beatles (the World's favorite songwriting band)

[Revolting cat!]

Said the joker to the thief!

[Ramius]

One of my favorite songs. It was really well placed in The Big Chill, too.

[fnord]

first tell me what "25 or 6 to 4" means

[weegee]

Were you listening in on Bubba and the Burglar's conversations again?

[Tijeras_Slim]

first tell me what "25 or 6 to 4" means

It think that was the odds at Kent State, the greatest shut-out of the 60's.

[doodad]

I still am not getting pinged on this list weegee. Do you mind adding me, I must have done something wrong?

Thanks.

[Gay State Conservative]

It think that was the odds at Kent State, the greatest shut-out of the 60's.

Kent State happened in May 1970.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Kent State happened in May 1970.

I guess the 60's were good to me. :)

Never let historical accuracy get in the way of a cheap laugh.

[dead]

first tell me what "25 or 6 to 4" means

It's the time of day. Twenty-five or twenty-six minutes before four o'clock.

That's what I always assumed anyway.

[sully777]

All the world's a stage--Rush nicked it from Shakespeare

We are all of us in gutter, some of us looking at the stars -- Pretenders nicked it from Oscar Wilde

Yellow matter custer dripping from a dead dogs eye--John Lennon nicked it from a child's school song

[weegee]

The Doors nicked some Classical Spanish guitar for Spanish Caravan and STILL have to pay royalties despite the author being dead for centuries.

[fnord]

first tell me what "25 or 6 to 4" means

It's the time of day. Twenty-five or twenty-six minutes before four o'clock.

That's what I always assumed anyway.

You are right. I actually wasted a few minutes looking it up online. Another mystery from my youth cleared up

[doodad]

Thanks a bunch. I will try to contribute something meaningful to the list.