Don't Pay The Ferryman
View chords used in this chart
G Em
I was late at night on the open road
G C
Speeding like a man on the run
C G C G D
A lifetime spent preparing for the journey
G Em
He is closer now, as the search is on
G C
Reading from a map in the mind
C G C G D
Yes, there's that rugged hill and there's a boat on the river.
Em Em D
And when the rain came down,
Em Dsus4 D
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 B
"Too many men have failed before; whatever you do,
Chorus:
Em D Em
Don't pay the ferryman
Em D Em C D
Don't even fix a price
Em D Em
Don't pay the ferryman
C D Em
Until he gets you to the other side"
Em D Em Em D Em
G Em
In the rolling mist as he gets on board
G C
Now there'll be no turning back
C G C G D
Beware that hooded old man at the rudder
G Em
And the lightning flashed and the thunder rolled
G C
And people calling out his name
C G C G D
And dancing bones that jabbered and a-moaned on the water.
Em Em D
And then the ferryman said
Em Dsus4 D
"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 B
And still that voice came from beyond: "whatever you do,
Chorus
Em D Em Em D Em
Repeat intro
B
Yea....
Chorus
Chorus
Em D D Em Em Em
Don't pay... The Ferry-man!
How to play Don't Pay The Ferryman
Use the controls above to change the key and text size. Follow the highlighted chords while listening, then practice each section slowly before playing at the original tempo.
What is the starting chord?
The first identified chord is G. You can transpose without leaving the page.
Can I play it on guitar or keyboard?
Yes. The chord progression works on acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard. Adapt the voicings to your instrument and level.