Lyrics:

All lyric annotations are at the page of the original Procol Harom’s version.
We skipped the light fandango
And turned cartwheels cross the floor
I was feeling kind of seasick
But the crowd called out for more
The room was humming harder
And the ceiling flew away
When we called out for another drink
The waitress 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
Were leaving for the coast
Although both my eyes were wide-open
They might just just have well 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

She said she wanted shore leave
Tho in truth we were at sea
So I took her by a looking glass
And forced her to agree
Saying you must be the mermaid
Who took Neptune for a ride
Well she smiled at me so sadly
That my anger straightway died
And so it was