Don't Pay The Ferryman by Chris de Burgh is from the 1982 album, 'The Getaway'. This recording and other Chris de Burgh albums are still available from www.cdeb.com
According to Greek myth, the name of the Ferryman was Charon and he was a tricky shit. You see, the mourners would put a coin on each eye of their deceased loved one and these coins were for Charon as fee for passage across the River Styx. However, halfway across the river, Charon would demand half payment, the drowned souls in the River Styx would cry out and tell the passenger not to do it! If you paid Charon one coin for half of the journey, the little shit would push you overboard and you would drown forever in the River Styx. NEVER pay the ferryman until he gets you to the other side!!
That's , basically, just giving the deceased bus fare for the ride. You give the bus driver his fare before he's done his job, and he kicks you out into traffic: that's the modern equivalent of this tale.
Great song, hopefully nobody who ever went to a concert missed this song because they were too busy in the lobby talking on the phone about stolen shopping carts…
*lyrics* 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" Yeah! 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.
I was 18 too and evil corporate crap like this made me realise that the so-called best years of my life were going to be soundtracked by evil corporate crap. Musical midgets like DeBurgh survived punk because the masses love evil corporate crap.
AAH THE DAYS OF MTV WHEN IT FIRST CAME OUT. BEFORE THE SHIT TOOK OVER FOR THE NEXT THIRTY SOMEWHAT YEARS. THIS BRINGS GREAT HIGH SCHOOL MEMORIES!!!!!!!
I was only 11 years old when this was out. Me, my bro and cousin were putting on a show for my parents and family to this song. At the end, I pretended I fell down and died. What precious memories.
TOTALLY AWESOME BRO, GREAT THAT YOU HAD A CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE THIS DECADE. I WAS 16 YRS OLD AND I CAN REMEMBER COMING HOME FROM SCHOOL AND WATCHING MTV . MAN I NEED TO GET MY HANDS ON A TIME MACHINE!!!!. ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO HEAR FROM OTHERS WHO WERE THERE LIVE!!!! ROCK ON S-E-E-M!!!!!!!!!!!. SUPER 70'S AND AWESOME 80'S FOREVER!!!
Although Chirs De Burg is mostly recognized for his softer ballads which are many; this song is one rockin, crank it up, rock n roll driver of a song. Apparently in concert is was often the closing piece with a light show that paralyzed the audience to numbness..........a most positive numbness I would think.
I've seen him in concert many times...last one was with my wife just 3-4 rows back on the floor....he comes out into the audience and mingles while singing...sometimes he gets someone to join him...he's a serious class act....and check out "In The Ballroom Of Romance"...you can crank that one too...;)
As great as it was back in the 80s, regardless of nostalgia. Love Chris de Burgh's voice, and I grew up reading Greek myths; doesn't get much better than this awesome song! ❤
Chris de Burgh is one of the last great storytellers in rock n roll. This is art pop at its best. Forget the lady in red, this is when Chris is firing on all cylinders, epic!
yeah man! dusting off some brain cells remembering this one. MTV, sophomore in HS. playing in my first metal band HIDDEN DANGER, la mesa, suburb of san diego. our bassist's name was john lennon, we'd hang at his house every weekend to rehearse, chase girls, and watch MTV. prior to my stoner days. two beers would do me all night, and I'd still puke. haha. those were the days.
True. My two favorites were Spanish train and Patricia the stripper. (Which i love to sing in karaoke) But I have recently reloved St Peters Gate. Songs that you feel..
poor Gary the mall cop waited 3 1/2 years to see this live and he missed it on the encore because he was on the phone in the foyer with his boss complaining about missing shopping carts....
1982...what a year, I was 13 yrs old & in 7th grade... I thought this song was the Greatest song on the radio & the greatest video on MTV!!! The 80s...the Greatest ERA/DECADE of music to ever come around in my opinion...especially 1981-1985. Much love from Mobile Alabama.
Music was going digital in the 80's more from the recording/production side but synths were getting much MUCH better. The drum fill from Phil Collins' In the Air Tonight created a whole new sound for the drums that lasted the entire decade. The sound was an accident the sound producer created and the sound was so amazing it literally took rock music by storm.
Who waits three years to see a Chris De Burgh concert and then MISS the encore of Don't Pay the Ferryman because I'm in the foyer talking about stolen shopping carts? I'm the one Bubbles, not you!
Many people think that Chris De Burgh Lady in Red was his first hit in the US, but Don't Pay the Ferry man was his first in October of 1983. It peaked at #33.
@@StLProgressive I agree. Lady in Red is a great slow dance song and that's the only reason it was so big. This one just has energy and excitement well he's belting out a tale.
Agreed. I don't remember a lot from that video, even though I loved it, but I do recall at least a few shots of Chris de Burgh, and it seems as if the look of it was different. Then again, it was almost 40 years ago...
Yes yes yes!!!! I thought I was crazy! I saw this when I was really young and I remember a cloak and a boat...but nothing like this, it was way darker and mtv-looking...this looks more like a tv ad😂
Absolutely love this song. Scared the shit out of me when I was a kid.... I still remember listening to it in Mum and Dads Holden Kingswood when they picked my brothers and me up from school!..... Great Memories 👍🏻❤️
This song means something to me my beloved brother introduced to chris de burgh and nowi play this as he passed at a young age....but we did pay the ferryman. ..my grasshopper your ant is grieving you.......1yr and forever. ..till I can be with you xxxxxx
When you pay the ferryman (Charon) it's for a ride across the river Styx into Hades (Hell). I'm not sure what happens if you don't pay him but I don't want to cross that river to be quite honest. I love the song all the same.
Not quite, Hades isn't hell, it was made out of the asphodel fields, elysian fields, and tartarus. asphodel fields is like purgatory, elysian fields elysium (or, heaven), and tartarus like hell. If you fell into the river Styx you'd be stuck there with the other people there, who would spend their time trying to pull other people into coming into the river Styx with them, and be trapped there forever, instead of being reincarnated, which would happen after some time in the afterlife (though you were promoted to a God if you went to Elysium fields 3 times in a row). Anyways, if you didn't pay him you'd probably be thrown into the river Styx, and the song is talking about you not being supposed to pay him until you get to the other side because Charon did his job for the money, so if he got you to pay early he'd throw you into the river to get back to shore quicker and get more business because time is money.
"Don't Pay The Ferryman" 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!"
Sure is.Chris has a lot of good tunes. Here’s two more underrated, Al Stewart and Chris Rea. All three have massive great albums and really great songs.
Yeshua already paid the cost of our sins with His blood, on the cross. Humbly accept that precious gift and live, niw and forever. Isaiah 52:13- 53:12 Behold, My servant will prosper, He will be high and lifted up and greatly exalted. Just as many were astonished at you, My people, So His appearance was marred more than any man And His form more than the sons of men. Thus He will sprinkle many nations, Kings will shut their mouths on account of Him; For what had not been told them they will see, And what they had not heard they will understand. Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him. He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth. By oppression and judgment He was taken away; And as for His generation, who considered That He was cut off out of the land of the living For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due? His grave was assigned with wicked men, Yet He was with a rich man in His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was there any deceit in His mouth. But the Lord was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand. As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities. Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the booty with the strong; Because He poured out Himself to death, And was numbered with the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the transgressors. Isaiah 52: 13- 53:1-12 Yeshua ,Jesus, is salvation Romans 9, 10, 11 Blessings
"You're not the one who waits to go to a Chris de Burgh concert for three-and-a-half years so I can go in and miss the encore, Don't Pay the Ferryman, because I'm on the phone in the foyer talking about stolen shopping carts! I'm the one who gets those calls Bubbles, not you Me. And you know what? I don't wanna get those calls anymore."
You're not the one who waits to go to a Chris de Burgh concert for three-and-a-half years so I can go in and miss the encore, Don't Pay the Ferryman, because I'm on the phone in the foyer talking about stolen shopping carts
I'm still listening to this in 2024 because it's league's above the crap you hear today Chris de burgs finest hour and he made some classic pop records Michael
Great songwriter and storyteller. This is the first song I heard by him but not the last. I know my name should preclude me from loving Chris de Burgh but he is one of my top three performers. Judas Priest, Chris de Burgh and Slayer!
I was a child of the 60's, ..then a teen in the 70's, ...I really miss the beautiful innocence of those years,they will never be re-created......nevertheless, ....hope reigns supreme, ....the best is yet to come!!!! As long as there are people who love..........
You're not the one who goes to a Chris DeBurgh concert and misses the encore of 'Don't Pay The Ferryman' because you're in the lobby on the phone talking about stolen shopping carts!
Gary the mall guy waited 3 years to go to a Chris De Burgh concert and MISSED this song cause he was on the phone out in the foyer talking about stolen shopping carts!
I am just sick and tired…….. sick and tired of being on the phone about stolen shopping carts. When I could have been listening to this masterpiece. I don’t want to get those phone calls anymore…..
This song just came on our local low power station and I havent heard it since the mid 80s, I had to look it up to remember who did it. Great to hear again.
You're not the one who waits to go to a Chris de Burgh concert for three-and-a-half years so I can go in and miss the encore...Don't pay the Ferryman....because I'm on the phone in the foyer talking about stolen shopping carts!!!!!
way back in the 80s my friend put this on while having a joint..gave me a few puffs I hated it never toutched it again but loved this and now have all of Chris de Burghs albums...
We have thanks for that haven't heard this song in years still give me the shivers there a old movie I watch years ago when people had to cross a river he wanted full payment that song always come into my head can't remember name of it but the ferry man who own the boat was creepy
40 years old next year. While some people apparently believed that the mumbled Shakespeare in the bridge is then-Doctor Who Tom Baker, it's actually not-yet-Giles, Anthony Stuart 'Tony' Head, brother of Murray Head, best known for The Only Hit Song From Chess.
Fascinating song. The lyrics of this amazing song are believed to be connected with mythology - "don't pay the ferryman" - these words are repeated over and over again as in the song the ferryman is the hooded old man at the rudder who represents the classic image of the Grim Reaper who is not to be paid until the lost souls are lead to the other side...........
Lorraine Ashby We need MORE songs with mythical themes. We have enough about sex, love, drinking, partying and miscellaneous superficial songs ( not going to mention any genres, rap, oops :)
Words at 2:47 are from The Tempest: And--how we know not--all clapp'd under hatches; Where but even now with strange and several noises Of roaring, shrieking, howling, jingling chains, And more diversity of sounds, all horrible, We were awaked; straightway, at liberty; Where we, in all her trim, freshly beheld Our royal, good and gallant ship, our master Capering to eye her: on a trice, so please you, Even in a dream, were we divided from them And were brought moping hither.
This is my favorite song of all time I couldnt tell you why. Its my lullaby to my kids. My wife said shes going to play this at my funeral if i were to pass before her.
Don't pay the Orangeman! Well, too late for millions. They got suckered during the ride. Good luck finding your way back to normal life. You can't complain about gas, food, taxes and gambling if you gave to the Orangeman.
I just recently had a throat operation and the 1st thing my anaesthetist noticed and commentated on was I had a Chinese coin bracelet taped to my wrist, he new of the song "Don't Pay The Ferryman" and of Chris de Burgh and we both laughed. At least he knows he is going to be paid in full, just asked him to pump in a little extra so I enjoyed the operation.
Bad ass tune,,,,I wouldn't haven remembered if it wasn't for my friend that showed me it...I haven't heard it since the early 80's. Couldn't even believe it when I heard it again after all these years...We are gonna try and redo it a little heavier...Killer tune!
Phenomenal track- simply MASSIVE!!! I haven't heard this song since I was 15!!!-1982 when they always played it on the radio in NY. TOTALLY MADE my I day- thank you for sharing! F'in Assume!!
Damn. What a quintessentially 80s song. Did they play the keytar on this track? What color leather pants were they wearing? What brand of aerosol hairspray were they huffing with their cocaine?
I'm 77 and this song still kicks ass.
Who's watching this in 2024?
i am because of trailer park boys.
This is the worst meme ever. No one cares when you are listening to this.
Me, it's a classic, but I'm 71 lol
me cos almost D Day!
@@Demonmack0 You my friend will never get across. It's OK! We'll throw you overboard halfway there....
lol....
Wow it has been a long time since I heard this song, still kicks ass.
That was pretty much my reaction when I saw it in the recommends. Haven't heard it in too, too long. Magnificent music.
According to Greek myth, the name of the Ferryman was Charon and he was a tricky shit. You see, the mourners would put a coin on each eye of their deceased loved one and these coins were for Charon as fee for passage across the River Styx. However, halfway across the river, Charon would demand half payment, the drowned souls in the River Styx would cry out and tell the passenger not to do it! If you paid Charon one coin for half of the journey, the little shit would push you overboard and you would drown forever in the River Styx. NEVER pay the ferryman until he gets you to the other side!!
Cool!
I'm not even quite sure why this made me laugh .....
"the little shit"
not exactly if you lost a loved one you'd put a coin on both eyes that would pay Charon
That's , basically, just giving the deceased bus fare for the ride. You give the bus driver his fare before he's done his job, and he kicks you out into traffic: that's the modern equivalent of this tale.
Great song, hopefully nobody who ever went to a concert missed this song because they were too busy in the lobby talking on the phone about stolen shopping carts…
Maybe they should turn their phone off at a Chris de Burgh concert.
@@Paul-tn3sc LOL. Is your last name Lahey by chance?
Lol that is exactly why I’m here
Gary?
@@myquest666420 me too mate haha
Early days when MTV actually showed music videos not dumb reality TV. This video got a lot of airplay. Great tune. Man i miss the 80's
I remember this one the most also.
I'm worse, grew up in the 70's
think hearing Fleetwood Mac on your FM car radio
I too miss these days!
True
True
Now I see why Gary was pissed to miss this after waiting 3 and a half years
Why don't you just turn your phone off Gary?
Poor gary.
Bubbles... lol
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Holy shit, I just came here to see what the fuss was about haha TPB 😅
don't fuck with me bubbles
thank you SO much sir for that TPB reference!!!!!!!
LOL when Gary the mall cop manager gets pissed about missing the encore of this song. That's the only reason I got here
You've always been a loser ray
“Why don’t ya just turn your phone off, Gary?”
It figures that a head mall cop would love this song
*lyrics*
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"
Yeah!
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.
80's teen. 55 now. I love this song. If you didn't get to be a teen in the 80's my condolences. It was unforgettable.
80s single digit, now 45😂
To think i was only 18 YRS when this was out.....Time of my life the 80's.....
Gotta love it.
Teen mom and Jersey shore now
I was 23
I was 19
I was 15
The first time I hear it in september 1983
I was 18 too and evil corporate crap like this made me realise that the so-called best years of my life were going to be soundtracked by evil corporate crap. Musical midgets like DeBurgh survived punk because the masses love evil corporate crap.
AAH THE DAYS OF MTV WHEN IT FIRST CAME OUT. BEFORE THE SHIT TOOK OVER FOR THE NEXT THIRTY SOMEWHAT YEARS. THIS BRINGS GREAT HIGH SCHOOL MEMORIES!!!!!!!
Me too. nice memories :-)
I was only 11 years old when this was out. Me, my bro and cousin were putting on a show for my parents and family to this song. At the end, I pretended I fell down and died. What precious memories.
TOTALLY AWESOME BRO, GREAT THAT YOU HAD A CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE THIS DECADE. I WAS 16 YRS OLD AND I CAN REMEMBER COMING HOME FROM SCHOOL AND WATCHING MTV . MAN I NEED TO GET MY HANDS ON A TIME MACHINE!!!!. ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO HEAR FROM OTHERS WHO WERE THERE LIVE!!!! ROCK ON S-E-E-M!!!!!!!!!!!. SUPER 70'S AND AWESOME 80'S FOREVER!!!
DITTO A A, DITTO ON THOSE MEMORIES!!!! KEEP THE FLAME BURNING FOR THESE GREAT MUSIC VID'S OF OUR ERA. !!!!! ROCK ON A A !!!!!!!!!!!!!.
If you find a time machine, please let me know.
Although Chirs De Burg is mostly recognized for his softer ballads which are many; this song is one rockin, crank it up, rock n roll driver of a song. Apparently in concert is was often the closing piece with a light show that paralyzed the audience to numbness..........a most positive numbness I would think.
I've seen him in concert many times...last one was with my wife just 3-4 rows back on the floor....he comes out into the audience and mingles while singing...sometimes he gets someone to join him...he's a serious class act....and check out "In The Ballroom Of Romance"...you can crank that one too...;)
I think the dude wanted to be heavy metal but had to pay bills and realized lady in red could pay for a lot of things ! Lol...
1251wire don’t you mean lady in duck egg blue 🤣
This song and Spanish train are my 2 favorites of his
As great as it was back in the 80s, regardless of nostalgia. Love Chris de Burgh's voice, and I grew up reading Greek myths; doesn't get much better than this awesome song! ❤
Chris de Burgh is one of the last great storytellers in rock n roll. This is art pop at its best. Forget the lady in red, this is when Chris is firing on all cylinders, epic!
Ya, Lady in Red was overplayed, nothing great.
AGREED!
yeah man! dusting off some brain cells remembering this one. MTV, sophomore in HS. playing in my first metal band HIDDEN DANGER, la mesa, suburb of san diego. our bassist's name was john lennon, we'd hang at his house every weekend to rehearse, chase girls, and watch MTV. prior to my stoner days. two beers would do me all night, and I'd still puke. haha. those were the days.
Agree ,don't like lady in red this is great though
True. My two favorites were Spanish train and Patricia the stripper.
(Which i love to sing in karaoke)
But I have recently reloved St Peters Gate. Songs that you feel..
poor Gary the mall cop waited 3 1/2 years to see this live and he missed it on the encore because he was on the phone in the foyer with his boss complaining about missing shopping carts....
only reason I watched this was because of that TPB episode
Alexander Demetriou
i was a teen in the 80s, this was in heavy rotation on MTV.....
Sean Spring Back when MTV was new!
Alexander Demetriou same
Alexander Demetriou I just looked it up after watching this episode hahaha.
Remember when you could watch videos on TV? This one was great.
+Ann Sellers tv? must be a new drug Oo :D
Yeah I miss those days too Ann. MTV, cruizin' with the t-tops out on my 280 zx! Youth is wasted on the young!
Yes, Chris, this song and video are great but MTV actually played a very different version of the video.
This isn't actually the video that was on MTV. I can't seem to find the original video anywhere -- anyone seen it?
@@bobdavis4848 It started out with Chris de Burgh on a white horse.
My mother died listening to this song---one of her favorites. I miss you mom. Don't even fix a price, until he takes you to the other side!
Sincere condolences for your loss. May she rest in peace.
I'm sorry brother. Charon rowed her to the other side. This is our life.
Yes, watching in 2024. I was a teenager then but these lyrics come into my mind often now. Good memory and good song.
Early MTV....back when the station was good.
Yes it was
bullshit now, put it on yesterday it looked like porn
@@SPRINGSTEEN-ek8oy It IS porn now, since the SJW's got hold of it.
Yeah, and REAL V-jays (foxy ones too) 🥰
@@InquisitorMatthewAshcraft Hell, half the time I watched it just for Martha Quinn or Nina Blackwood!
Amazing song. Truly, Chris De Burgh was a master of the English language in the form of poetry.
1982...what a year, I was 13 yrs old & in 7th grade...
I thought this song was the Greatest song on the radio & the greatest video on MTV!!!
The 80s...the Greatest ERA/DECADE of music to ever come around in my opinion...especially 1981-1985.
Much love from Mobile Alabama.
Music was going digital in the 80's more from the recording/production side but synths were getting much MUCH better. The drum fill from Phil Collins' In the Air Tonight created a whole new sound for the drums that lasted the entire decade. The sound was an accident the sound producer created and the sound was so amazing it literally took rock music by storm.
Who waits three years to see a Chris De Burgh concert and then MISS the encore of Don't Pay the Ferryman because I'm in the foyer talking about stolen shopping carts? I'm the one Bubbles, not you!
Many people think that Chris De Burgh Lady in Red was his first hit in the US, but Don't Pay the Ferry man was his first in October of 1983. It peaked at #33.
should have been WAY higher than that too. This song was a huge hit as far as I'm concerned
I loved this one more than Lady in Red, lol.
@@StLProgressive I agree. Lady in Red is a great slow dance song and that's the only reason it was so big. This one just has energy and excitement well he's belting out a tale.
@@Ghauster agreed❤
@@Ghauster Pure crap .
For some reason I loved this song in the 80's
sweet
When I feel down, I love seeing this video.
It was an excellent song, still is when you listen to it 🙂
I can still sing every word to every song on this album. I flat out wore this album out! Voice for the ages!
Why don’t you turn your f@@king cell phone off then Gary?
I remember this playing on MTV in the 80's. I love 80's music.
Underrated classic. Not the only de Burgh song that needs playing!
Really a great song to sing along to when life's difficulties sneak up on you unexpectedly!
Gary the mall cop missed the encore of this song
should have turned his cell phone off
I shit myself at that part. Was so unexpected lmao.
Shit winds Neal, shit winds...
He was in the foyer on the phone talking about stolen shopping carts.
This song is great at evoking images of some legendary tale or fantasy story. Always liked it. And I loved synth laden rock/pop from this era.
I get goosebumps every time I listen to this song, imaging in my mind a journey similar to what's shown in this video. It never gets old.
Remember when songs had an actual story ....good times.
Nearly all Chris De Burgh ones do
Chris Murfin yep, good memories of playing spy vs spy on the speccy.
+1977Futre Well people used to think then .
+1977Futre Yup, I remember: The present day ....Good times.
+SteamOtter There is some good music nowadays. But it is few and far between.
This is definitely not the official video that was played on MTV in 1982. That's the one that I want to see!
Agreed. I don't remember a lot from that video, even though I loved it, but I do recall at least a few shots of Chris de Burgh, and it seems as if the look of it was different. Then again, it was almost 40 years ago...
ua-cam.com/video/lqZEp4Fb6qw/v-deo.html
Yes yes yes!!!! I thought I was crazy! I saw this when I was really young and I remember a cloak and a boat...but nothing like this, it was way darker and mtv-looking...this looks more like a tv ad😂
@@eclecticx It's unavailable. :(
Thank you I was hoping I wasn't losing what's left of my mind.
This brings back so many memories 1982,US Air Force, and MTV actually played music videos.
I'm from Canada and spent 82/83 hitch-hiking and backpacking all over New Zealand and Australia. The "Ferryman" was always on the airwaves--great.
This man is my favorite musician. I have been listening to his music since 1983! I would give anything to see him in concert, and meet him!
Corny brought me here
I always loved this song (sometimes confused the title w/ Blue Oyster Cult 's, Don't fear the Reaper!). Another great song!!
😘😎👍
Try this cover Mikey…
ua-cam.com/video/dUlNMSTAges/v-deo.html
Not a true fan of either if those titles confused you lmao
Or perhaps Dancing in the Ruins, all good tunes.
We have the same taste in music
Absolutely love this song. Scared the shit out of me when I was a kid.... I still remember listening to it in Mum and Dads Holden Kingswood when they picked my brothers and me up from school!..... Great Memories 👍🏻❤️
This song means something to me my beloved brother introduced to chris de burgh and nowi play this as he passed at a young age....but we did pay the ferryman. ..my grasshopper your ant is grieving you.......1yr and forever. ..till I can be with you xxxxxx
beautiful tribute
Vancou vera thank you he wasgreat man but alas he did not believe in himself. ..but we did
Vancou vera thank you. .so much
Rip
I'm so sorry for your loss.
When you pay the ferryman (Charon) it's for a ride across the river Styx into Hades (Hell). I'm not sure what happens if you don't pay him but I don't want to cross that river to be quite honest. I love the song all the same.
Not quite, Hades isn't hell, it was made out of the asphodel fields, elysian fields, and tartarus. asphodel fields is like purgatory, elysian fields elysium (or, heaven), and tartarus like hell. If you fell into the river Styx you'd be stuck there with the other people there, who would spend their time trying to pull other people into coming into the river Styx with them, and be trapped there forever, instead of being reincarnated, which would happen after some time in the afterlife (though you were promoted to a God if you went to Elysium fields 3 times in a row). Anyways, if you didn't pay him you'd probably be thrown into the river Styx, and the song is talking about you not being supposed to pay him until you get to the other side because Charon did his job for the money, so if he got you to pay early he'd throw you into the river to get back to shore quicker and get more business because time is money.
@@zaarongaming8174 very interesting
@@zaarongaming8174 Hades was the god of the underwold and wealth
Maybe Tommy Shaw and Styx would know. 😂
This song sounds better now than before 🤩
Faceless for the boys
Luke Mansell facless for the boys
Luke Mansell for the boys
FACELESS FOR THE BOYS
THIS WHOLE TIME THE SONG WAS FORESHADOW, WOAG!!!!!!!!!
KinkyMinx well he did say the series was pre-recorded so you are probably right.
*this song is for the boys. Legends.*
Legends... security service
My boys rikishi and wally
!
"Don't Pay The Ferryman"
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!"
I’m only 15 my mom showed me this (I’m on her account) it’s pretty good. It’s from Greek and Latin mythology. And the pioneer days
I have all his albums on Cassette tape and one lonely little tape player that still works. So many wonderful pieces of music.
I wish I still had them all. My mother called me an idiot for listening to his music qnd got rid of all my music
@@CookiesCritterCare Thank God you can find most of them on youtube.
Yes! There's a concert here may 2nd I don't have a credit card to go 😪
I remember this song from 1982. Great song and The Getaway is a good album. It sucks that this guy is only remembered for The Lady in Red.
Sure is.Chris has a lot of good tunes. Here’s two more underrated, Al Stewart and Chris Rea. All three have massive great albums and really great songs.
Yeshua already paid the cost of our sins with His blood, on the cross.
Humbly accept that precious gift and live, niw and forever.
Isaiah 52:13- 53:12
Behold, My servant will prosper, He will be high and lifted up and greatly exalted. Just as many were astonished at you, My people, So His appearance was marred more than any man And His form more than the sons of men. Thus He will sprinkle many nations, Kings will shut their mouths on account of Him; For what had not been told them they will see, And what they had not heard they will understand.
Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him. He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth. By oppression and judgment He was taken away; And as for His generation, who considered That He was cut off out of the land of the living For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due? His grave was assigned with wicked men, Yet He was with a rich man in His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was there any deceit in His mouth. But the Lord was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand. As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities. Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the booty with the strong; Because He poured out Himself to death, And was numbered with the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the transgressors.
Isaiah 52: 13- 53:1-12
Yeshua ,Jesus, is salvation
Romans 9, 10, 11
Blessings
Faceless
this is a classic I love it
i fuckin missed the encore of this song gettin a call about stolen shopping carts
well Gary, why don't you turn your phone off?
"You're not the one who waits to go to a Chris de Burgh concert for three-and-a-half years so I can go in and miss the encore, Don't Pay the Ferryman, because I'm on the phone in the foyer talking about stolen shopping carts! I'm the one who gets those calls Bubbles, not you Me. And you know what? I don't wanna get those calls anymore."
Me: Should I pay the Ferryman?
Chris De Burgh: *I will beat a muthafuckker WITH ANUTHA MUTHAFUKKER!!*
Halts Maul
Gary is still trying to collect missing shopping carts...😁
I waited 3 1/2 years to go to this concert and Im in the foyer missing the encore on phone about stolen carts
Music just isn't made like this anymore in the mainstream... Yeah, got the T-shirt, coffee mug and ten and twenty year pin too guys, lol.
You're not the one who waits to go to a Chris de Burgh concert for three-and-a-half years so I can go in and miss the encore, Don't Pay the Ferryman, because I'm on the phone in the foyer talking about stolen shopping carts
You need to turn your cell phone off then.
I'm still listening to this in 2024 because it's league's above the crap you hear today Chris de burgs finest hour and he made some classic pop records Michael
Great songwriter and storyteller. This is the first song I heard by him but not the last. I know my name should preclude me from loving Chris de Burgh but he is one of my top three performers. Judas Priest, Chris de Burgh and Slayer!
I was a child of the 60's, ..then a teen in the 70's, ...I really miss the beautiful innocence of those years,they will never be re-created......nevertheless, ....hope reigns supreme, ....the best is yet to come!!!! As long as there are people who love..........
Yeah, we really had it good:)
Faceless brought me here
You're not the one who goes to a Chris DeBurgh concert and misses the encore of 'Don't Pay The Ferryman' because you're in the lobby on the phone talking about stolen shopping carts!
Why dont you turn your phone off Gary?!
Gary the mall guy waited 3 years to go to a Chris De Burgh concert and MISSED this song cause he was on the phone out in the foyer talking about stolen shopping carts!
I am just sick and tired…….. sick and tired of being on the phone about stolen shopping carts. When I could have been listening to this masterpiece.
I don’t want to get those phone calls anymore…..
Turn your cell phone off, Gary!
For the boys
Rens de Zeeuw hell yeah
This song just came on our local low power station and I havent heard it since the mid 80s, I had to look it up to remember who did it. Great to hear again.
Come to Staten Island....The Ferry is Free !
Gary the mall cop of trailer park boys brought me here had to hear the intro
My favorite song by him don't pay the ferryman love watching videos on
What made MTV epic before knocked up 16 year olds.
thank the Liberals for that
@@JohnH20111 liberal ruin everything
Powerful voice of Chris de Burgh. Just right for The Ferryman. Ty
I haven't heard this song in years I truly miss old music. This song is awesome
Gary the mall cop will never get his chance to see him live
You're not the one who waits to go to a Chris de Burgh concert for three-and-a-half years so I can go in and miss the encore...Don't pay the Ferryman....because I'm on the phone in the foyer talking about stolen shopping carts!!!!!
The spoken section over the instrumental interlude is frpm the Tempest and is read By Anthony Stewart Head
In Greek mythology, Charon took payment before he even took anyone into the boat, much less rowed them across the Styx.
MaskedMan66 you forgot the thrilic kitharist Orfeus !
way back in the 80s my friend put this on while having a joint..gave me a few puffs I hated it never toutched it again but loved this and now have all of Chris de Burghs albums...
The Irish have so many talented singers. Chris de Burgh and Van Morrison are my two favorites. From Canada. Keep it going guys. 😎🇨🇦🎶🎵❤🙏
So true!!!!!
We have thanks for that haven't heard this song in years still give me the shivers there a old movie I watch years ago when people had to cross a river he wanted full payment that song always come into my head can't remember name of it but the ferry man who own the boat was creepy
@@marianwalsh6297 I heard the story of the Ferryman, very interesting. He does sound kind of on the creepy side. Blessings from Canada. 😎🇨🇦
40 years old next year.
While some people apparently believed that the mumbled Shakespeare in the bridge is then-Doctor Who Tom Baker, it's actually not-yet-Giles, Anthony Stuart 'Tony' Head, brother of Murray Head, best known for The Only Hit Song From Chess.
Fascinating song. The lyrics of this amazing song are believed to be connected with mythology - "don't pay the ferryman" - these words are repeated over and over again as in the song the ferryman is the hooded old man at the rudder who represents the classic image of the Grim Reaper who is not to be paid until the lost souls are lead to the other side...........
I remember that tune
Brien Lafata
It was Originally " don't pay the Kerryman" but he had to change it because the boatmen of kerry got upset.
Very interesting take on an ole song,never really gave THAT much thought,Thanks
Strangleholdintn I actually read this somewhere or someone told me but it resonated somehow.
Lorraine Ashby We need MORE songs with mythical themes. We have enough about sex, love, drinking, partying and miscellaneous superficial songs ( not going to mention any genres, rap, oops :)
Words at 2:47 are from The Tempest:
And--how we know not--all clapp'd under hatches;
Where but even now with strange and several noises
Of roaring, shrieking, howling, jingling chains,
And more diversity of sounds, all horrible,
We were awaked; straightway, at liberty;
Where we, in all her trim, freshly beheld
Our royal, good and gallant ship, our master
Capering to eye her: on a trice, so please you,
Even in a dream, were we divided from them
And were brought moping hither.
combcomclrlsr Thanks for that info. Never would have guessed.
The reader of "The Tempest" text is none other than Anthony Stewart Head aka Watcher Rupert Giles from "Buffy: The Vampire Slayer".
William Shakespeare reference possibly? If so, what act, scene, and lines is it?
dianaAthemiscyra Cool! And wasn't he brother to Murray Head of "One Night In Bangkok" fame?
This is my favorite song of all time I couldnt tell you why. Its my lullaby to my kids. My wife said shes going to play this at my funeral if i were to pass before her.
Don't pay the Orangeman! Well, too late for millions. They got suckered during the ride. Good luck finding your way back to normal life. You can't complain about gas, food, taxes and gambling if you gave to the Orangeman.
*throws Tom Servo across the theater*
nebbywoo that scene brought me here 🤣
"High School Bigshot". God, Betty was a sexy little minx.
A little harsh but it had to be done.
I just recently had a throat operation and the 1st thing my anaesthetist noticed and commentated on was I had a Chinese coin bracelet taped to my wrist, he new of the song "Don't Pay The Ferryman" and of Chris de Burgh and we both laughed. At least he knows he is going to be paid in full, just asked him to pump in a little extra so I enjoyed the operation.
Heard this by Tom Petty years ago. Miss him.
Thanks Chris for this....!!
More timeless lessons from the 80s.
Also wise is to not to let anyone calling himself the Grim Reaper into your house; or anyone who says he is death.
Bad ass tune,,,,I wouldn't haven remembered if it wasn't for my friend that showed me it...I haven't heard it since the early 80's. Couldn't even believe it when I heard it again after all these years...We are gonna try and redo it a little heavier...Killer tune!
Showed me it lmfao
MTV was good when they played music videos instead of reality TV
80 people paid the ferryman before he got them to the other side.
7beers All of these thumbs down people are probably the stoners and boozers that the captain threw overboard. HEE! HEE!
+7beers lol...unfortunately 103 now....god rest their souls...lol
+tmr626 HEE! HEE! HEE! HEE! HEE! HEE! AHOOO!
+Lindsay Drummond The devil still cheats and wins more souls. And as for the Lord, well, He's just doing his best.
+tmr626 keelhauled ppl ^^
Tom Servo loves this song to death.
Perfect story of "false promises." Don't pay until they live up to their end of the deal.
1) I'm gonna pay the ferryman, 2) I'm gonna fix a price, and 3) I'm gonna do it before he gets me to the "other side." Bitches....
Bought this record and Billy Ocean's "Caribbean Queen" with my birthday money when I was 11. What an idiot.
Thanks for sharing this--> I haven't heard this song is so long, it was a great treat to hear it again!
faceless
Phenomenal track- simply MASSIVE!!! I haven't heard this song since I was 15!!!-1982 when they always played it on the radio in NY. TOTALLY MADE my I day- thank you for sharing! F'in Assume!!
Damn. What a quintessentially 80s song. Did they play the keytar on this track? What color leather pants were they wearing? What brand of aerosol hairspray were they huffing with their cocaine?
Even after forty years, I still wonder who was right. The voices out of the night saying don't pay, or the ferryman saying pay me now.