Portitor has horrendus aquas et flumina servat
terribili squalore Charon, cui plurima mento
canities inculta jacet, stant lumina flamma,
sordidus ex umeris nodo dependet amictus

Ibant obscuri sola sub nocte per umbram
perque domos Ditis vacuas et inania regna
quale per incertam lunam sub luce maligna
est eiter in silvis, ubi caelum condidit umbra
Juppiter, et rebus nox abstulit atra colorem

"Sic demum lucos Stygis et regna invia vivis aspicies..."
"Anchisa generate deum certissimia proles,
Cocyti stagna alta vides Stygiamque paludem.
di cujus jurare timent et fallere numen."

Nec plura his. Ille admirans venerabile donum
fatalis virgae longo post tempore visum
caeruleam advertit puppim ripaeque propinquat.

Watching over these waves and streams of filth is the
horrible ferryman Charon, on whose chin countless unkept
grey hairs lie outspread; his eyes endure in flame, and
a squalid cloak hangs knotted from his shoulders.

Beneath lonely darkness the gloomy travellers go through shadow
and through the deserted abodes and ghostly kingdom of Dis:
through uncertain moonlight under rays of a spiteful sort the way
lies in the woods, where Jupiter hides the sky in shadow and
night steals colour from the black heavens.

"In this manner you will at last behold the sacred grove of Styx
and the kingdom pathless to the living..."
"Child of Anchises, most certain prodigy of a god, you will see
the deep mere of the mournful river of Hades and the swamp of
Styx, whose divine power the gods fear to swear by and prove false."

Nothing more was said. Wondering at the venerable offering of the
fated branch, seen after a distant time, he turned the vessel to
the darkness and the shores approached.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of 'The Ferryman' by maudlin of the Well imagines a journey of the dead, crossing over to the underworld through the river Styx with Charon, the ferryman. The song is rich in its symbolism and imagery, reflecting the ancient Greek mythology related to the river Styx and the journey to the underworld. The opening lines describe Charon, the ferryman, watching over the filthy and turbulent waves of the river Styx. The following lines describe the journey of the dead going through the deserted and ghostly kingdom of Dis in the uncertain light of a spiteful moon. The woods create shadows where the sky is hidden by Jupiter, and the night has taken away all color from the black heavens.

The next lines have a voice describing to the singer that after a while, they will see the sacred grove of Styx, and the pathless kingdom of the underworld. The voice also tells the singer that they will see the deep mere of the mournful river of Hades and the swamp of Styx, whose divine power the gods fear to swear by and prove false. The voice stops speaking about this, and the singer admires the fated branch before turning to the darkness.

Overall, the song captures the essence of Greek mythology and provides a glimpse of what the journey to the underworld would look like. From Charon, the ferryman, to the kingdom of Dis and Styx, the song creates vivid imagery that immerses the listener into the journey of the dead.

Line by Line Meaning

Watching over these waves and streams of filth is the
Charon, the ferryman, observes the dirty waters he crosses

horrible ferryman Charon, on whose chin countless unkept
Charon has unkempt grey hairs that lie outspread on his chin

grey hairs lie outspread; his eyes endure in flame, and
Charon's eyes are burning in flames

a squalid cloak hangs knotted from his shoulders.
Charon is wearing a dirty and tangled cloak on his shoulders

Beneath lonely darkness the gloomy travellers go through shadow
The travelers go through a shadowy and lonely place

and through the deserted abodes and ghostly kingdom of Dis:
They pass by the empty homes and ghostly kingdoms of the underworld

through uncertain moonlight under rays of a spiteful sort the way
They walk in the woods under an uncertain and malicious moonlight

lies in the woods, where Jupiter hides the sky in shadow and
Jupiter conceals the sky in the woods with a shadow

night steals colour from the black heavens.
The night takes color away from the dark sky

"In this manner you will at last behold the sacred grove of Styx
In this way, you will finally see the holy place of Styx

and the kingdom pathless to the living..."
And the realm that living cannot access

"Child of Anchises, most certain prodigy of a god, you will see
You, the child of Anchises and a god, will witness

the deep mere of the mournful river of Hades and the swamp of
The sad river of Hades and the Styx swamp

Styx, whose divine power the gods fear to swear by and prove false."
Styx has a divine power so feared by the gods they dare not swear falsely by it

Nothing more was said. Wondering at the venerable offering of the
No more words were spoken. The singer was in awe of the revered gift

fated branch, seen after a distant time, he turned the vessel to
After seeing the branch, which had been fated and seen from a distance, the artist turned his boat towards

the darkness and the shores approached.
The darkness and the shore they were approaching.

Contributed by Chloe H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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