Don't Pay The Ferryman
De Burgh Chris Lyrics

It was late at night on the open road
The journey started at an ungodly hour.

Speeding like a man on the run
He was in a hurry.

A lifetime spent preparing for the journey
He has been ready for this moment his entire life.

He is closer now and the search is on
He is nearing his destination and is looking for the ferryman.

Reading from a map in the mind
He's using his memory to navigate.

Yes, there's the ragged hill
He has found the hill he was looking for.

And there's the boat on the river
The ferryman's boat is visible.

And when the rain came down
It started raining.

He heard a wild dog howl
He heard an eerie sound in the night.

There were voices in the night (don't do it)
He heard warning voices telling him not to get on the ferry.

Voices out of sight (don't do it)
The voices were coming from a distance and he couldn't see who was speaking.

Too many men have failed before
Others have attempted this journey and have not made it to the other side.

Whatever you do
The voices are emphasizing the importance of not paying the ferryman.

Don't pay the ferryman
He is being warned not to pay the ferryman.

Don't even fix a price
He shouldn't even negotiate a price with the ferryman.

Until he gets you to the other side
Only pay the ferryman once you've reached the other side.

In the rolling mist, then he gets on board
He boards the ferry in a foggy atmosphere.

Now there'll be no turning back
He's committed to making the journey.

Beware that hooded old man at the rudder
The ferryman is described in a spooky manner.

And then the lightning flashed, and the thunder roared
A sudden storm begins.

And people calling out his name (name, name, name)
He hears people calling his name in a frightening way.

And dancing bones that jabbered and a-moaned on the water
The imagery suggests a creepy setting with bones that seem to be alive.

And then the ferryman said
The ferryman speaks to him.

There is trouble ahead
The situation ahead is dangerous.

So you must pay me now (don't do it)
The ferryman is threatening him and trying to get him to pay now despite the previous warnings.

And still that voice came from beyond
He still hears the warning voice telling him not to pay the ferryman.

We were dead asleep
At this point, the lyrics shift into a different tale.

And all clapped under hatches
Everyone was trapped below deck.

Where, with strange and several noises
There were unsettling sounds coming from above.

Of roaring, shrieking, howling, jingling chains
The chaos above deck is described in a vivid, unsettling way.

And more diversity of sounds, all horrible
The sounds were even worse than what was previously described.

We were awaked, straight away at liberty
They were freed from captivity.

Where we, in all her trim, freshly beheld
They saw the ship in its full beauty and splendor.

Our royal, good, and gallant ship
The ship was described in a celebratory manner.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
This serves as a refrain and emphasizes the warning not to pay the ferryman.