Still Was The Night

Storytelling | Seabirds & Lost Sailors | Skáldablóð

[stillwasthenight]

Boiling Frog

Some people want to watch the world burn But me I just want a job And lord knows I’m trying, and yet I still can’t find the right line Biding time as a boiling frog

Too late to do anything meaningful, they say Change is inevitable somehow And before the gloom, there was plenty of room for doom But I’d rather ring my bell

What to do? It’s hard to tell

What to do? What to do?

Full of joy, full of promise, full of life The hopes I have stowed for you Just do your best until you’ve got nothing left to give Go on now, sing and dance to your own tune

Gone back, on the rocks again with my mind Trying to spark up a conversation Big small talk until it forks into the abyss at the end And I might just dive into bed

What to do? It’s hard to tell

What to do? What to do?

Some people want to watch the world burn Some would light the fire as well Some dude who was rude to the point of being crude And probably belongs in jail

Some people want to watch the world burn But me I just want a job And lord knows I’m trying, and yet I still can’t find the right line Biding time as a boiling frog

What to do? It’s hard to tell

What to do? It’s hard to tell

What to do? It’s hard to tell

What to do? What to do?

(Jackson Papworth. 07/12/2025)

C Am Em G

Dm G Am Em Dm G C C/G

D7 G Bm Am C/G Em Bm C

C/G

Capo on fourth, fifth, or sixth (prob sixth).

[stillwasthenight]

Old Man Yeller

I can’t find the time to dive for pearls because I was in another world It sure was a different time you see now I can’t afford a better wine to breathe

I’m conflicted as to who I am or should want to be I don’t wanna rock the boat but I wanna shake the tree I’m an optimist, yet somewhat cynical it seems and I look like I wanna look like a poor man’s James Dean

One day after the other One foot in the grave forgive me lover And just like that there goes another lap around the sun

Now if I can’t yell at clouds no more I’ll play the game but I won’t keep score There’s gotta be more as to why I bleed but what if I am only to play a part in watering the tree?

Sometimes I get a little too in my head so people say I’m a maze because I probably am These innate conditions come unconditionally but I'm afraid you'll never get a chance to inspect the deed

One day after the other One way to pay with the sins of the father

One day after the other One way to pay with the sins of the father And just like that there goes another lap around the sun

Well I can’t get too comfortable now I have kids of my own and yet I’m still a kid somehow It’s all at risk, but you know it always is I could die at war or peace, it’s all hit and miss

When all I wanna do is get drunk with my friends and all you wanna do is to ask questions like "to what end?" Ain't it obvious that I’m seeking oblivion momentarily? I’m looking for an escape but I don’t want to leave

One day after the other One way up I'm with you brother

And just like that there goes another lap around the sun

And just like that there goes another lap around the sun

And just like that there goes another lap ——

Well I’m turning kinda blue burning kinda red churning kinda green okay, well now I’m dead Now I’m trying to make hay while the sun is up but the day is clouding over and the night always comes

So nobody told me how to make hay anyway I guess they were saving that for their course on making hay So I’ve wasted more than a day just throwing around seeds kicking some dirt about and I’m still pulling out them weeds

I’m not sure where I’m going it’s a strange kind of jaunt a little longer than expected but no shorter than I’d want

No, I can’t wait until I figure it out

Fighting the tide against a sea of doubt maybe if I win the lottery that’d be my shout Trying to keep it light but it’s all kinda heavy right now...

One day after the other One less day to worry your mother

One day after the other One less day to worry your mother And just like that there goes another lap around the sun

And just like that there goes another lap ——

And just like that there goes another lap ——

Oh and just like that there goes another lap around the sun.

(Jackson Papworth. 10/10/2025)

E E A E B A E B A D7 A E D7 A E Am E D7 E G7 D7 A Capo on fifth.

[stillwasthenight]

Jerrycan

Well I guess my life's a bore and everyone's a chore I just hope I can joke about the pain I'd worked well until I got old but now I'm a little less bold Aging ever more gracelessly every day Is it enough to say "Enough"? Nah I don't care for that, love Lay my hat and sleep where I lay Well can anybody really tell is it heaven or is it hell? You ask me and my answer would change depending on the day So I'm wondering aloud beneath a mushroom cloud Does the budget allow for ice cream and cake? Now the rent is going up and yet you talk about my cup But all I'm filling is this jerrycan again Well can anybody really tell is it heaven or is it hell? You ask me and my answer would change depending on the day She was quiet at night until she got an awful fright The money I lost was less than the sum of all I had gained And so I put it all on red yes darling, I know now that it wasn't there Went too large for a mirage, when it wasn't any place And yet it felt all too slow for the end I would never wait to know Honey, how could I try to find myself in that maze? Well can anybody really tell is it heaven or is it hell? You ask me and my answer would change depending on the day Well, can anybody really tell is it heaven or is it hell? You ask me and my answer would change depending on the day Well I guess my life's a bore and everyone's a chore I just hope I can joke about the pain The money I lost was less than the sum of all I had gained Went too large for a mirage, when it wasn't any place Honey, how could I try to find myself in that maze when it's a den of snakes? I just hope I can joke about the pain Aging ever more gracelessly every day Lay my hat and sleep where I lay Well can anybody really tell is it heaven or is it hell? You ask me and my answer would change depending on the day. (Jackson Papworth. 15/09/2025) Verse: C F F C Chorus: F C / F C / G F / C Capo on third.

[stillwasthenight]

Firebird

Young man with a gun in your hand you don’t know where you’re going And if you don’t know where you’re going then, why are you armed and running? Armed and running towards the fight, but you’re surely running from something Young man with a gun in your hand no, you don’t know where you’re going

Young one, all the days you won For all the wars your parents fought to bring you to this moment Young love, all the summers gone Gazing out from the bay into the beyond only dreaming of being less lonely

Young man with the gun in your hand you don’t know where you’re going And if you don’t know where you’re going then, why are you armed and running? Armed and running towards the fight, but you’re scared and running from something Young man with the gun in your hand where do you think you’re going?

Tend to your garden, and toil until night Cast off your old shadows, throw that yoke into the fire The cold should arrive soon, those days are over son So throw your caution to the wind, it's only a matter of time love

Young man with your heart in your hand I heard you know where you’re going And given you know where you’re going then, well that there sure is something Singing songs of hope like a firebird born suddenly out of the ashes Song man with your heart in your hand.

(Jackson Papworth. 11/09/2025)

Verse: Em Gsus Am Em Bridge: C Am G C Capo on second (or fifth).

[stillwasthenight]

More Wine?

Well I was looking for a win Now I sure ain’t got the time Staring out the dirty window Yet I can only see a bottle of wine Been doing some reflecting But tell me, who’s keeping score? Some people say it’s good And yet to me it all just feels kinda sore So now, what’s it all for? For seeing what I saw? For being where I’ve been? For saying what I said? Trying to write it out Trying to ride it out Trying to shout “Our love was only for a short brief while.” Well I could’ve been just about anyone But I never had much a choice They say I chose every day, but in some ways, I made such little sound with my voice Upon reflection, I think Which is more than I’ve ever done Now I just need time to decide If the race is already run So now, what’s it all for? For seeing what I saw? For being where I’ve been? For saying what I said? Trying to write it out Trying to ride it out Trying to shout “Our love was only for a short brief while.” And yet it can endure, my love Well I was looking for a win Now I sure ain’t got the time Staring out the dirty window Hoping for pure white sunshine Been doing some reflecting Making fuzzy pictures in my head Some people say it’s good Yeah, I suppose it is, I guess So now, what’s it all for? For seeing what I saw? For being where I’ve been? For saying what I said? Trying to write it out Trying to ride it out Trying to shout “Our love was only for a short brief while.” And yet it can endure, my love. (Jackson Papworth. 27/08/2025) Verse: C E Am C Chorus part one: G G E C Chorus part two: Am Am E C Chorus fill/end: G E Am Capo on ninth.

[stillwasthenight]

Old Rusty Bones

Old rusty bones Ain't go no soul Gave at the office Ain't pay no toll

Old rusty bones Old rusty bones Just a sack of meat Old rusty bones

Long way from home Done for the road Some pine for lost times Ain't one of those

Old rusty bones Old rusty bones Just a hunk of dust Old rusty bones

Gone get on now Wait until the low Gone get on now Wait until the low Gone get on now Wait until the low Gone get on now Doggone Rusty old bones

Old rusty bones Trade for my loan Give you a nice price I just want to roam

Old rusty bones Old rusty bones Only old oils Old rusty bones

Tell them that's right Tell them good night Tell everyone you find and just don't like

Tell them to look Tell them to gawk Tell them to watch closely as the eagle eats the hawk

Long way from home Done for the road Some pine for lost times Ain't one of those

Old rusty bones Old rusty bones Rusty old bones Old rusty bones

Old rusty bones Old rusty bones Only lonely at night sometimes Old rusty bones

Old rusty bones Old rusty bones Just a sack of meat Just a hunk of dust Just a broke down motor Just a caulked up gun Only old oils Old rusty bones

Old rusty bones Old rusty bones Rusty old bones Old rusty bones.

(Jackson Papworth. 20/08/2025)

Verse: E / E / Am / E Chorus: E / E / G / E Bridge: E / E / E / E / E / G / Am / E Capo on third.

[stillwasthenight]

Not For Sale

Now I don’t know But I’ve been told One of these days I’m going to sell my soul

When I’m tired And when I’m old They say I’ll play But only for a pocket full of gold

Now I’m no whore But I want more And money can buy you Exemption from the law

Want a boat? Want to keep afloat? Then you gotta buy This remote control

Well, I’m not for sale I’m not for sale Well, I’m not for sale Are you?

Well, I’m not for sale I’m not for sale Well, I’m not for sale Are you?

Now I don’t know But I’ve been told One of these days I’m going to sell my soul

Book a seat in the sun Put my head in the sand All to avoid my lot The unreasonable demands

So pass a beer But sink it slow For a troubled mind Has no place to go

I never had Much of a home I only had houses I went home to

Well, I’m not for sale I’m not for sale Well, I’m not for sale Are you?

Well, I’m not for sale I’m not for sale Well, I’m not for sale Are you?

Now I don’t know But I’ve been told One of these days I’m going to sell my soul

When I’m tired And when I’m old But the answer is still no No.

(Jackson Papworth. 20/03/2023)

Cdm Abm etc A B (or E)

E A E A E A B

[stillwasthenight]

Bludgeoned Skull

My mortal frame Weathered now  and heavy And yet brittle somehow Burdened by  my bludgeoned skull

I figured I’m not allowed To find my peace  or something else Must’ve been born under a cloud Presumed guilty  when I’m really not

And my philosophy? Well, I’m saving it for a rainy day And my totality Would like to go and come back again And all that I can see  is a variation of grey On a shaky bridge to nowhere  with only my thoughts again

Well, I sure hope it does rain.

Running with scissors Luckily it’s just  a little dull blade It was slightly imperfect Everyone is  and things are strange

I dunno whatcha saying I can’t help  you right now Get a good sleep And you’ll feel better  when you’re not a grouch

And my philosophy? Well, I’m saving it for a rainy day And my totality Would like to go and come back again And all that I can see  is a variation of grey On a shaky bridge to nowhere  with only my thoughts again

Well, I sure hope it does rain.

Well, I sure hope it does rain I just want to feel something (even if it’s pain) Starting to crack under heat like old paint Well, I sure hope it does rain.

(Jackson Papworth. 07/05/2025)

E E A E

G C G C A C E E7 E E7 G C E

[stillwasthenight]

Shadows

At times you must forget All you mightn’t know And even if you do It’s often best to pretend you don’t

I don’t know where or how I’m going to lay low The sun is burning up now Out with old shadows

The cinder that once burnt bright Smothered by the vines Get in line to find your mind There’s neither tools nor time

There’s a place of hearth and heart I’m going to get that far I’ll be smart It’s an art But deep down I know it’s only chance

It’s only chance Soldier on I know

Soldier on my son Raise your bloody brow Put that skull cap on And let the Éire howl

The banshee of the night Screaming for a ride That’s the way of the weak Don’t speak, son, just scowl

There’s a place of hearth and heart I’m going to get that far I’ll be smart It’s an art But deep down I know it’s only chance

It’s only chance Soldier on I know

At times you must forget All you mightn’t know And even if you do It’s often best to pretend you don’t

I don’t know where or how I’m going to lay low The sun is burning up now Out with old shadows

The cinder that once burnt bright Smothered by the vines Get in line to find your mind There’s neither tools nor time

There’s a place of hearth and heart I’m going to get that far I’ll be smart It’s an art But deep down I know it’s only chance

It’s only chance Soldier on I know

It’s only chance Soldier on I know

It’s only chance Soldier on I know

It’s only chance I know.

(Jackson Papworth. 14/04/2025)

[stillwasthenight]

Bloodlust

Snakeskin Harlot Traitorous Poisonous Decisive Greed

Veiled attempt Desperate measures Illogical Dying on that hill Crying Murder

Oh and so it goes On and on until we’ve nothing to show For our sins and toil Only a pile of bones

Aggressive Thumbless Bloodlust Witness to it all Fall after fall Careless

Dreadful So full of it Wicked Rebellious Howling The dog's gone mad

Oh and so it goes On and on until we’ve nothing to show For our sins and toil Only a pile of bones

Oh and so it goes On and on until we’ve nothing to show For our sins and toil Only a pile of bones

Enchanter Enchantress Magical Whimsical Yet Toothless

Hysterical Storied and fabled Evangical Well I'm glad you called I'm on a slow decline

Almost half-stupid Poignant yet forgetful Tempestuous Incredulous Ridiculed

Oh and so it goes On and on until we’ve nothing to show For our sins and toil Only a pile of bones

So God is a woman So God is a man So God is whoever has got the keys in their hands And the rest of us are hanging below the rope

Oh and so it goes On and on until we’ve nothing to show For our sins and toil Only a pile of bones.

(Jackson Papworth. 28/05/2025) Verse: C Am E Chorus: Am Dm C E G Am Capo on third.

[stillwasthenight]

Postman

Well I was mistaken for a man of substance Worth more than the mere letter of the law A postman or something, a teacher or a doorman A lawyer, a driver, a janitor But instead I’m a flunkie, a dysfunctional junkie Trying to scrap together all this copper wire And baby if you see me on the rise Then you know I’ll surely be getting higher

And baby if you know Then I’m nobody at all Darling when you go Who will go to your funeral?

There's a whole lotta nothing Waiting for something Asking For a ride or a light It seems we're all just rolling On our ball of dirt and ocean Goin' 'round A fireball in the sky

Well I said mama, ain't no mama Ain't got no mama, no No no papa, ain't no papa He left long ago My brother, where’s my brother? I know thy brother, not Oh baby Do you want to come along?

And baby if you know Then I’m nobody at all Darling when you go Who will go to your funeral?

Well I was mistaken for a man of substance Worth more than the mere letter of the law A postman or something, a teacher or a doorman A lawyer, a driver, a janitor But instead I’m a flunkie, a dysfunctional junkie Trying to scrap together all this copper wire And baby if you see me on the rise Then you know I’ll surely be getting higher

And baby if you know Then I’m nobody at all Darling when you go Who will go to your funeral?

And baby if you know Then I’m nobody at all Darling when you go Who will go to your funeral?

(Jackson Papworth. 26/05/2025)

C Am F C E Am F C Capo on third.

[stillwasthenight]

Elderflower

Well I’m almost out of apathy Don’t pity my petty soul I sure ain’t got no empathy I gave up that old girl long ago

See I broke down a while back On the way back I fell down Haven’t been right since And I’m still hell, well, stuck in this damn town

Elderflower, wilted and old It’s hard to believe you once were a rose In one long gone hour, you put on quite the show Prancing about for some gilded bastards' pleasure

Got lost in my lustful youth No I didn’t find a thing Set out searching for elation But instead I just never left

While overexcited with ecstasy It happened before my eyes The bright night turned to a cold n' brooding winter It seems I can no longer tell the time

Elderflower, wilted and old It’s hard to believe you once were a rose For a day love, you held onto hope Making believe it would somehow, somehow just get better

Well it’s getting late now don’t’cha think I should probably call it a night But if I go to sleep now I’ve got to find the will to rise

So I’ve spent a life hoarding things While giving nothing away It's said the best kind of medicine Is the pill that you never have to take

Sure, I have my share of enemies And far fewer friends Most people aren’t my cup of tea You were all off the rails when I went through the bend

Elderflower, wilted and old It’s hard to believe you once were a rose Slow and withering, a vine never picked just to hold Elderflower, wilted and old

Elderflower, wilted and old It’s hard to believe you once were a rose Beguiled by power, looking to powder your nose Trying to find yourself again in this dark and stormy weather.

(Jackson Papworth. 10/06/2024)

Verse D D C Am Em D

Chorus G Em Am G G Em Am D G Em Am G G Em Am C Em D G

Capo sometimes.

[stillwasthenight]

Moon Dog

Honey, I’ve been Chasing my tail For far too long

Honey, I’ve been Howling at the night All alone

I’m just a moon dog, mama A junkyard hound Looking for a lighthouse in the fog Are you sticking around?

Roaming the streets Fighting my shadows I don’t want no trouble Now

Finding my feet Running from bottles Got enough bad jojo To share around

I’m just a moon dog, mama A junkyard hound Hunting for a thing to make me feel something Until the cost goes down

Honey, I’ve been Biding my time For far too long

Honey, I’ve been Running off rats In this rat-infested town

Talk about work Working me to my bones My mojo was the first to go I’m a shell and a shroud

Don’t mean to be a jerk But it’s all that I know And I know that I won’t No, I don’t know how?

Talk about work Working me to my bones I’m losing my head To get ahead in this town

I’m just a moon dog, mama A junkyard hound Trying to find myself without getting lost Yes I still want to be found

I’m just a moon dog, mama A junkyard hound Looking for a way to make up for the loss Are you there now?

Looking for a lighthouse in the fog Are you sticking around? Hunting for a thing to make me feel something Until the cost goes down

I’m just a moon dog, mama A junkyard hound I’m just a moon dog, mama

(Jackson Papworth. 29/03/2025)

Chords:

Verse

Fm Fm Fm Am on 6 E on 6

Chorus

A Fm E E A E Fm A

Bridge

E A Fm Am6 E6 D A E

[stillwasthenight]

Good Times

Well hey little Sonny Oh hey my Honey I want you kids to know You’ve got time Where I’ve had mine And you’re going to get so old

So there’s no hurry Now there’s no worry In hindsight nothing was known I’ll get a little shorter My son and daughter While you’re going to get so tall

So old and tall Until one day You too slow And this song Gets sung again In good time.

Well hello my Honey And hey there Sonny You snuck up beneath my nose Bear have you been good While I was in the woods? Honeybee sure well told me so

So there’s no hurry Now there’s no worry How we’ve watched you grow As a garden with water You’ve gone in short order And now we’re just counting crows

While we had no wine Where we had no wine But your mother and I had hope And we loved each other And we love each other And the story our children wrote

And now here we are Where we are Completely satisfied Old enough To know enough Holding hands, by and by

So old and tall Until one day There’s no room to grow And this song Gets sung again In good time.

So old and tall Until one day There’s no room to grow And this song Plays out til the end In good time.

Well hey little Sonny Oh hey my Honey I want you kids to know You’ve got time Where I’ve had mine And you’re going to get so old

So there’s no hurry Now there’s no worry In hindsight nothing was known I’ll get a little shorter My son and daughter While you’re going to get so tall

So old and tall Until one day You too slow (there’s no room to grow) And this song Gets sung again (plays out til the end) In good time.

(Jackson Papworth. 26/05/2024)

Verse D D D A D

Chorus A G D A G D

[stillwasthenight]

Witching Moon

You know we all will slow Now ain’t it strange No matter which way it goes Eventually your face will change

And thereafter it gets better everyday Best of luck not getting lost in the maze

There’s a wild eyed look I get By the witching moon Nights like that make such short days Seem that much brighter though

I’m not sure where I’m headed What I’m going to do next year Its said you underestimate yourself Well, hell, that’s called learning, dear

And thereafter it gets better everyday Best of luck not getting lost in the maze

There’s a wild eyed look I get By the witching moon Nights like that make such short days Seem that much brighter though

Now before you can begin You're covered in sin Wash yourself clean of yesterday's

And thereafter it gets better everyday Best of luck not getting lost in the maze

And thereafter it gets better everyday And thereafter it gets better everyday Best of luck not getting lost in the maze

(Jackson Papworth. 21/01/2023) Verse F C Am C Am G

Prechorus F G Am D F G C

Chorus C Am C E Am G F E Am C

Capo on second.

[stillwasthenight]

Sweet Potato, Old Wine

I might be right I may be wrong I could I can I do not know Perhaps we’ll find out By the daybreak of dawn Just how I turned out Alright

Sweet potato Old wine Lamb and a lick of salt And a nick of thyme A cold beer in hand My lady in sight It’s warm inside Despite the night Oh honey I’m a happy man How could it be? Darling.

Now I’m over here pinching myself Well I could be just about anybody else Ain’t my choice now see I was born in this well Well you could say I got lucky or I made my own luck but Don’t be discounting those who surely lifted me up See I’m about as watered as a thirsty mutt can be A thirsty mutt like me And I’d buy you a drink if I wasn’t so cheap But it’s okay because dinners on me So it’s time to celebrate our time Let’s rejoice

Sweet potato Old wine Lamb and a lick of salt And a nick of thyme A cold beer in hand My lady in sight It’s warm inside Despite the night Oh honey I’m a happy man How could it be? Darling.

I only want you to be as happy as me Jump onboard this train if you like Now we’re cooking but go when you need Sonny, there’s no better time

I might be right I may be wrong I could I can I do not know Perhaps we’ll find out By the end of this song Just how I turned out Alright

It’s all just noise There’s nothing else You can attach meaning to a barn owl A hoot in the dark could spook you scared There’s everyman’s ambition and fear It’s fair to say Darling.

(Jackson Papworth. 24/09/22)

E / Bm / Fon4 / A

E / Bm / A / Fon4 / A

E D / A / D / A

[stillwasthenight]

Stray Dog

Busy chasing hopes and dreams till it's time for bed Trying to make grand ideas work but finding hope doesn't pay the rent

Wonder how far I'll get until I need to rest Probably should just call it a day

Yet I can't deny my keen eye What I want shouldn’t come as a surprise

A sturdy roof over my head would be nice Just something to keep the rain out

I'm marching to the beat of my hearty drum while watching my time burn down like a dirty cigarette See, it's a dog eating world we live in now and I'm just a stray, going door to door

Taking on the world in my sleep A hero up in bright lights a knight of the big screen

Fighting for justice or whatever that means Standing up for the little guy

Because the tall people are thieves and their money grows on leaves How can I pay my power bill when I have to buy cheese?

Wonder how far I'll get until I need to rest Probably should just call it a day

I’ve been called all kinds of things deragatory and inflammatory names But the best one I got was “honey, you look like a stray”

Busy chasing hopes and dreams till it's time for bed Trying to make grand ideas work but finding hope doesn't pay the rent

Wonder how far I'll get until I need to rest Probably should just call it a day

Yet I can't deny my keen eye What I want shouldn’t come as a surprise

A sturdy roof over my head would be nice Just something to keep the rain out

I'm marching to the beat of my hearty drum while watching my time burn down like a dirty cigarette See, it's a dog eating world we live in now and I'm just a stray, going door to door

Taking on the world till it's time for bed.

(Jackson Papworth. 25/11/2016)

E E A A A E E A A A

D D A A E

E E E A E G A D D D D A A E G E G E G E

[Not sure whether to use or delete this part] A E A D E