don`t pay the ferryman
words & music by chris de burgh

Em G C
it was late at night on the open road , speeding like a man on the run
C/B Am G D
a lifetime spent preparing for the journey .
Em G C
he is closer now and the search is on , reading from a map in the mind ,
C/B Am G D
yes! there’s that ragged hill and there’s a boat on the river .

Em D Em D
and when the rain came down , he heard a wild dog howl
C G
there were voices in the night ( don’t do it! )
C G/D C
voices out of sight ( don’t do it! )
B
too many men have failed before , __ whatever you do;

Em D Em
don’t pay the ferryman!
Em C D
don’t even fix a price!
Em D Em
don’t pay the ferryman
C D Em D Em D Em
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 .
Em D D Em
dont pay the ferryman . . .