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 the ragged hill
And there's the 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 (Don'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

(Don't pay the ferryman)
(Don't even fix a price)
(Don't pay the ferryman)
Until he gets you to the other side

(Don't pay the ferryman)
(Don't even fix a price)
(Don't pay the ferryman)
Until he gets you to the other side

(Don't pay the ferryman)
(Don't even fix a price)
(Don't pay the ferryman)
Until he gets you to the other side

(Don't pay the ferryman)
(Don't even fix a price)
(Don't pay the ferryman)
Until he gets you to the other side

Don't pay the ferryman