Don't Pay the Ferryman
Burgh Chris de Lyrics

It was late at night on the open road
He was traveling late at night on an empty road

Speeding like a man on the run
He was driving fast as if running away from something

A lifetime spent preparing for the journey
He had spent a long time preparing for this trip

He is closer now and the search is on
He is getting closer to his destination and the search continues

Reading from a map in the mind
He is navigating mentally using a map

Yes, there's the ragged hill
He recognizes the ragged hill from the map

And there's the boat on the river
He sees the boat on the river in the distance

And when the rain came down
It started raining heavily

He heard a wild dog howl
He heard a wild dog howling in the night

There were voices in the night (don't do it)
He heard mysterious voices in the night warning him not to do something

Voices out of sight (don't do it)
The voices were coming from somewhere he couldn't see

Too many men have failed before
There have been other people who have failed in this journey

Whatever you do
No matter what happens

Don't pay the ferryman
He should not pay the ferryman

Don't even fix a price
He should not even discuss the price

Until he gets you to the other side
He should only pay the ferryman once he reaches the other side

In the rolling mist, then he gets on board
In the thick mist, he climbs onto the ferry

Now there'll be no turning back
Once he's on board, he won't be able to turn back

Beware that hooded old man at the rudder
He should be careful of the old man steering the boat

And then the lightning flashed, and the thunder roared
There was a sudden flash of lightning and a loud sound of thunder

And people calling out his name (name, name, name)
He hears people calling out his name in a haunting manner

And dancing bones that jabbered and a-moaned on the water
He sees skeletons dancing and making strange noises on the water

And then the ferryman said
The ferryman spoke

There is trouble ahead
He warns that there may be trouble ahead

So you must pay me now (don't do it)
The ferryman demands payment but he shouldn't pay yet

And still that voice came from beyond
The haunting voice again warned him

Don't pay the ferryman
He should not pay the ferryman

Until he gets you to the other side
The payment should only be made once he reaches the other side

We were dead asleep
They were sound asleep

And all clapped under hatches
Everyone was under the covered area of the boat

Where, with strange and several noises
There were strange and varied noises

Of roaring, shrieking, howling, jingling chains
There were sounds of roaring, shrieking, howling and chains clanking

And more diversity of sounds, all horrible
There were more terrible sounds

We were awaked, straight away at liberty
They were suddenly awakened and were free

Where we, in all her trim, freshly beheld
They saw everything in a new light

Our royal, good, and gallant ship
They saw their ship, still beautiful and noble