We skipped the light Fandango,
turned cartwheels 'cross the floor
I was feeling kind of 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.
(Chorus:)
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.
Instrumental
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 just as well've been closed.
Chorus
Apparently there is an unpublished second verse that never made it onto the record because the record company thought the song was already too long. I've heard they included this verse in concerts: 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 straight 'way died