After having been asked to leave the group by Robert Fripp, Sinfield continued to be active in the progressive rock scene. He produced Roxy Music's first album Roxy Music, and later recorded a solo album, Still, in 1973. The album was later reissued on CD with additional tracks as Stillusion. He then turned up providing lyrics for fellow Crimson alumnus Greg Lake in Emerson, Lake and Palmer, as well as others like Italian progressive rock group PFM and former Procol Harum singer/pianist Gary Brooker.
Latterly, he has worked in the pop music field. For example, he wrote the lyrics to "The Land of Make Believe" by Bucks Fizz and "Think Twice" for Celine Dion. He has also written lyrics for another Crimson alumnus, David Cross.
Sinfield's best known work is the lyrics for the "atheist" Christmas song "I Believe in Father Christmas" by Greg Lake in 1977 which has now become a Christmas standard.
Still
Peter Sinfield Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From a dark well constant flowing,
Winding seawards over ancient mossy wheels
Yet feel no need of knowing?
Still I wonder how it is to be a tree,
Circled servant to the seasons,
Only drink on sky and rake the winter wind
And need no seal of reasons?
Still I wonder why I wonder why I'm here
All my words just the shaft of my flail
As I race o'er this beautiful sphere
Like a dog who his chasing his…
Tailors and tinkers, princes and Incas,
Sailors and sinkers, before me and like me…
Still I wonder how it is to be a bird,
Singing each dawns sweet effusions;
Flying far away when all the world has stirred
Yet seek no vain conclusions…
Still I wonder if I passed some time ago
As a bird, or a stream, or a tree?
To mount up high you first must sink down low
Like the changeable tides of the
Caesars and Pharoahs, prophets and heroes,
Poets and hobos, before me and after me all the
Painters and dancers, mountainside chancers,
Merchants and gamblers, bankers and ramblers,
Winners and losers, angels and boozers,
Beatles and Bolans, raindrops and oceans,
Kings, pawns and deacons, fainthearts and beacons,
Caesars and Pharoahs…
The song “Still” by Peter Sinfield is a contemplative and introspective piece that meditates on the nature of being and existence. The lyrics explore how it might feel to live as different natural elements - a stream, a tree, a bird - and how they are able to move and flow through the world without needing to know why. Sinfield wonders why he wonders why he exists and compares himself to others throughout history who have also struggled with their place in the world.
The first stanza presents the idea of being a stream or a tree and the sense of purposelessness that comes with it. While they exist and move through the world, they do not question or attempt to understand their existence. This is contrasted against the second stanza, where Sinfield questions his own purpose and existence. He acknowledges that his words may be meaningless and he is unsure of why he is here.
The third stanza returns to the idea of being a bird, where the act of singing and flying is enough to bring joy without needing to seek any further meaning or purpose. The final stanza acknowledges that perhaps Sinfield has existed in different forms in the past and that to reach a higher level of understanding, one must first sink down into the depths of existence.
Overall, “Still” is a thought-provoking song that questions the nature of our existence and our search for meaning and purpose in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Still I wonder how it is to be a stream,
I am curious about the experience of being a stream, with constant flow from a dark well and winding to the sea, without the need for knowledge.
From a dark well constant flowing,
The stream constantly flows from a dark well.
Winding seawards over ancient mossy wheels
The stream winds its way towards the sea, passing over ancient mossy wheels.
Yet feel no need of knowing?
The stream doesn't have the need to know anything.
Still I wonder how it is to be a tree,
I am still curious about the experience of being a tree, a circled servant to the seasons, that only needs to get water from the sky and handle winter winds without any reasoning.
Circled servant to the seasons,
The tree follows the seasons in a circular pattern.
Only drink on sky and rake the winter wind
The tree drinks water from the sky and endures the winter wind without any motives.
And need no seal of reasons?
The tree doesn't require a motive or reason.
Still I wonder why I wonder why I'm here
I am still curious as to why I question my existence.
All my words just the shaft of my flail
My words might be futile or repetitious like the flail's shaft.
As I race o'er this beautiful sphere
As I travel around this gorgeous planet.
Like a dog who his chasing his…
Similar to a dog who keeps chasing his tail.
Tailors and tinkers, princes and Incas,
People from different professions or social classes.
Sailors and sinkers, before me and like me…
People who sailed and those who sunk before and after me.
Still I wonder how it is to be a bird,
I still wonder what it feels like to be a bird, singing sweetly at dawn, flying away when the world awakens, and not coming to any conclusions.
Singing each dawns sweet effusions;
The bird sings sweetly every dawn.
Flying far away when all the world has stirred
The bird flies far away when the world awakens.
Yet seek no vain conclusions…
The bird doesn't pursue any unimportant conclusions.
Still I wonder if I passed some time ago
I still think about whether I existed in different forms earlier in life.
As a bird, or a stream, or a tree?
Whether I existed as a bird, a stream, or a tree.
To mount up high you first must sink down low
To achieve greatness, you have to start from the bottom.
Like the changeable tides of the
Similar to the unpredictable tides of the sea.
Caesars and Pharoahs, prophets and heroes,
Powerful people from the past.
Poets and hobos, before me and after me all the
Poets and beggars, those before and after me.
Painters and dancers, mountainside chancers,
Artists and performers, risk-takers on mountainsides.
Merchants and gamblers, bankers and ramblers,
Merchants and gamblers, bankers and wanderers.
Winners and losers, angels and boozers,
Winners and losers, heavenly beings and drinkers.
Beatles and Bolans, raindrops and oceans,
Musicians from the past and bodies of water.
Kings, pawns and deacons, fainthearts and beacons,
People from different stations in life, weak people and shining beacons.
Caesars and Pharoahs…
Powerful people from the past mentioned again.
Contributed by Joseph J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Michael Haller
From the opium of custom
to the ledges of extremes
Don't believe it till you've held it
Life is seldom what it seems
But lay your heart upon the table
And in the shuffling of dreams
Remember who on earth you are
Pete Sinfield is by far the best lyricist to ever grace vinyl. Lake had his input too, but Sinfield: oh boy, he was good.
Physcia Gómez
Still I wonder how it is to be a stream
From a dark well constant flowing
Winding seawards over ancient mossy wheels
Yet feel no need of knowing?
Still I wonder how it is to be a tree
Circled servant to the seasons
Only drink on sky and rake the winter wind
And need no seal of reasons?
Still I wonder why I wonder why I'm here
All my words just the shaft of my flail
As I race o'er this beautiful sphere
Like a dog who his chasing his…
Tailors and tinkers, princes and Incas
Sailors and sinkers, before me and like me…
Still I wonder how it is to be a bird
Singing each dawns sweet effusions;
Flying far away when all the world has stirred
Yet seek no vain conclusions…
Still I wonder if I passed some time ago
As a bird, or a stream, or a tree?
To mount up high you first must sink down low
Like the changeable tides of the
Caesars and Pharoahs, prophets and heroes
Poets and hobos, before me and after me all the
Painters and dancers, mountainside chancers
Merchants and gamblers, bankers and ramblers
Winners and losers, angels and boozers
Beatles and Bolans, raindrops and oceans
Kings, pawns and deacons, fainthearts and beacons
Caesars and Pharoahs…
Lori Rothenbush
Still: Peter Sinfield & Greg Lake:
Still I wonder how it is to be a stream,
From a dark well constant flowing,
Winding seawards over ancient mossy wheels
Yet feel no need of knowing?
Still I wonder how it is to be a tree,
Circled servant to the seasons,
Only drink on sky and rake the winter wind
And need no seal of reasons?
Still I wonder why I wonder why I'm here
All my words just the shaft of my flail
As I race o'er this beautiful sphere
Like a dog who his chasing his…
Tailors and tinkers, princes and Incas,
Sailors and sinkers, before me and like me…
Still I wonder how it is to be a bird,
Singing each dawns sweet effusions;
Flying far away when all the world has stirred
Yet seek no vain conclusions…
Still I wonder if I passed some time ago
As a bird, or a stream, or a tree?
To mount up high you first must sink down low
Like the changeable tides of the
Caesars and Pharoahs, prophets and heroes,
Poets and hobos, before me and after me all the
Painters and dancers, mountainside chancers,
Merchants and gamblers, bankers and ramblers,
Winners and losers, angels and boozers,
Beatles and Bolans, raindrops and oceans,
Kings, pawns and deacons, fainthearts and beacons,
Caesars and Pharoahs…
Lisa Minnesota
I'm STILL crying in 2019 over Greg's passing. I miss you and your beautiful voice sooo much. I will listen to your music forever.
Trevor Dennis
Lisa, I agree that no other KC vocal quite matched the rich and resonant sound of Greg's voice. I do like Jakko Jakszyk's vocals though. As far as Peter Sinfield goes, I am sure the rest of the band used to stand behind him and snigger. He was seriously weird, but I think he is still with us.
Kathy Ratino
@Trevor Dennis Weird, but a wonderful lyricist and poet. He said he was their "pet hippie." He knew how to find the best clothes.
Mad Cyril
@Kathy Ratinoabsolutely correct
Big influence he was, amazing lyricist.
I was very disappointed he never followed
his solo album from 1973 STILL with more albums.
rosanne damours
Greg Lake's voice is incredible!
Lori Rothenbush
Speechless. Am lucky to experience this. Thanks to Greg Lake and Peter Sinfield who can deliver music like no one.
Mad Cyril
Don’t forget MR WETTON.
B. H.
Greg Lake has the most incredible angelic voice in all of progressive rock! Now he’s singing with the Angels! Thank Greg for you incredible talent as a musician and singer! Love you always!
Odaina Spirit
Saw ELP in 1978 too. Gregs voice will be eternally holy.
Jill Robinson
Holy may not be quite the word, but God made a beautiful man in Greg, and thus blessed us all.