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

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