Lyrics: Don’t Pay the Ferryman
Album: Spark to a Flame: The Very Best of Chris de Burgh
Artist: Chris De Burgh
 

It was late at night on the open road, speeding like a man on the run
A lifetime spent preparing for the journey.
He is closer now and the search is on, reading from a map in the mind:
Yes there’s that ragged hill and there’s a boat on the river.

And when the rain came down, he heard a wild dog howl
There were voices in the night
(Don’t do it!)
Voices out of sight
(Dont’t do it!)
Too many men have failed before, whatever you do;

Don’t pay the ferryman!
Don’t even fix a price!
Don’t pay the ferryman
Until he gets you to the other side.

In the rolling mist, then he gets on board, now there’ll be no turning back
Beware that hooded old man at the rudder.
And then the lightning flashed and the thunder roared,
and people calling out his name,
And dancing bones that jabbered-and-a-moaned on the water.

And then the ferryman said “There is trouble ahead,
So you must pay me now.”
(Don’t do it!)
“You must pay me now.”
(Don’t do it!)
And still that voice came from beyond, whatever you do;

Don’t pay the ferryman!
Don’t even fix a price!
Don’t pay the ferryman
Until he gets you to the other side.