Don’t pay the ferryman    (intro)    (midi)    (sample)

 

    Em - C - Em - C     - D - Em - D - Em

 

              Em                          G                        

1. It was late at night on the open road,

        G                     D               C

    speeding like a man on the run,

                       G         Am                  D

    a lifetime spent preparing for the journey.

              Em                           G                          

    He is closer now and the search is on,

      G                      D               C

    reading from a map in the mind.

                                 G         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                           

    voices out of sight, (Don't do it !)

C                                                B7

    too many men have failed before, whatever you do :

 

Em         D         Em                     D      C

    Don't pay the ferryman! Don't even fix a price !

Em          D        Em                         C                      D     Em      - D

    Don't pay the ferryman, until he gets you to the other side.

 

+ Em - D      - Em 

 

              Em                            G                         

2. In the rolling mist, then he gets on board,

      G                         D          C

    now there'll be no turning back,

                           G       Am                   D

    beware that hooded old man at the rudder.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                         Em                                      G                          

    And then the lightning flashed and the thunder roared,

             G                   D          C

    and people calling out his name,

                           G             Am                       G                      D

    and dancing bones that jabbered-and-a-moaned on the water.

 

                          Em                    - D                 Em                  - D

    And then the ferryman said,         "There is trouble ahead,

           C                         G  

    so you must pay me now." (Don't do it !)

        C                         G  

    "You must pay me now." (Don't do it !)

C                                                      B7

    And still that voice came from beyond, whatever you do :

 

Em         D         Em                     D      C

    Don't pay the ferryman! Don't even fix a price !

Em          D        Em                         C                      D     Em     - D

    Don't pay the ferryman, until he gets you to the other side.

 

+ Em - D     - Em - C - B7

 

Em         D         Em                     D      C

    Don't pay the ferryman! Don't even fix a price !

Em          D        Em                         C                      D     Em

    Don't pay the ferryman, until he gets you to the other side.

 

+ repeat CHORUS (2x)

 

              D            Em

+ Don’t pa…y the ferryman !

 

    (Chris de Burgh)