Misheard Song Lyrics -> Stories -> Procol Harum

The Story: In ancient Rome, the Vestal Virgins or Vestals (Latin: Vestālēs, singular Vestālis [wɛsˈtaːlɪs]) were priestesses of Vesta, virgin goddess of Rome's sacred hearth and its flame. The Vestals were unlike any other public priesthood. They were chosen before puberty from a number of suitable candidates, freed from any legal ties and obligations to their birth family, and enrolled in Vesta's priestly college of six priestesses. They were supervised by a senior vestal but chosen and governed by Rome's leading male priest, the Pontifex maximus; in the Imperial era, this meant the emperor. Vesta's acolytes vowed to serve her for at least thirty years, to study and practise her rites in service of the Roman State, and to maintain their chastity throughout. As well as their obligations on behalf of Rome, Vestals had extraordinary rights and privileges, some of which were granted to no others, male or female. The Vestals took it in turns to supervise Vesta's hearth, so that at least one Vestal was stationed there at all times. Vestals who allowed the sacred fire to go out were punished with whipping. Vestals who lost their chastity were guilty of incestum, and were sentenced to living burial, a bloodless death that must seem voluntary. Their sexual partners, if known, were publicly beaten to death. These were very rare events; most vestals retired with a generous pension and universal respect. They were then free to marry, though few of them did. Some appear to have renewed their vows. In 382 AD, the Christian emperor Gratian confiscated the public revenues assigned to the cult of Vesta in Rome, and the Vestals vanish from historical record soon after. - Submitted by: Bill

The Story: I grew up watching Bewitched. Alice Ghostley was a regular guest-star on the program (she played the nervous witch, Esmeralda, who was always screwing up spells). I was still just a tot when Procol Harum released "Whiter Shade of Pale" in '67, but I paid attention to music and things like actors' names, so I knew who Alice Ghostley was. I was absolutely convinced Procol Harum was singing about the actress in that song. I STILL hear the lyric as "The face of Alice Ghostley" even though I know better. I kind of like it that way! - Submitted by: polly flinders

The Story: I sang the wrong lyrics for years up until high school, when a musician friend of mine started laughing at me when we discussed Whiter Shade of Pale as a song we were to play in our band, as I read the Lyrics I started laughing too, when I told him what I thought the lyrics were about Wyatt Earp! - Submitted by: Gabriel Borchsenius

The Story: It was only forty years later that I discovered the true lyrics. - Submitted by: Bill Hayles

The Story: First heard this song on an oldies station around 1990 whilst in my teens,thought 'skipped our lives and dangled' meant being irresponsible or avoiding reality. - Submitted by: ShatteredVinyl

The Story: I just figured that the girl had a very pale complexion to begin with. - Submitted by: Gene Rzeczkowski

The Story: I never knew the true words, until I heard the song covered by another group, as backup music in the closing credits of Sandra Bullock's film "The Net." - Submitted by: TIM MELLIN

The Story: As a kid, I could never figure out why one of the many aunts on Bewitched was mentioned in this song. - Submitted by: Missy Jinks

The Story: I thought these were the lyrics until my sophomore year of high school. My family was walking through the airport and this song came on and my dad said 'Whiter Shade of Pale - great song!' Suddenly it clicked and I said 'ohhhhh! Now it makes sense!' I had to explain myself and everyone laughed. - Submitted by: Holly

The Story: I thought they encouraged them to listen! - Submitted by: Cody Finke

The Story: In the car, CD player, heard the *weird* lyrics, and said 'This song's kind of surreal'. I was asked for an explanation, and so I asked about this crazy lyric. Everyone laughed, car swerved, hit another car. No one was hurt. Really funny though. - Submitted by: Bill Deal

The Story: Beleive it or not, this is genuine. It was my friend's sister who insisted those were the lyrics. - Submitted by: Peter Royle

The Story: I actually saw these misheard lyrics printed in a rock song book in the seventies. - Submitted by: Greg Benner

The Story: All through my life, listening to oldies stations, I thought it was "As the melodrama's tale" instead of "As the miller told his tale". That's what I thought it was when I was in high school and college. I really didn't find out the real lyrics until a few years ago (I'm 41 now). Actually though, I suppose melodrama's tale does make sense though, because "Whiter Shade Of Pale" is a sort of melodrama. (Note: definition of melodrama: a play interspersed with songs and orchestral music accompanying the action). "Leader Of The Pack" and "I Never Can Go Home Anymore" by the Shangri-Las, for instance, is considered to be a melodrama, as an oldies song. Haha. - Submitted by: Codi Preston D.

The Story: It is like a geometry ballad with lines and angles. - Submitted by: Jade

The Story: Another song I've been singing my way for years, heard it live many times, and finally got a chance glimpse at the lyrics recently and learned that not only was I singing the wrong lyrics, Id been spelling the band name wrong for years, too, as 'Procul Harem' - Submitted by: Rhiannon Stone