Don't Pay the Ferryman
Encyclopedia
"Don't Pay the Ferryman" is a single by Chris de Burgh
from the album The Getaway
. It was produced in 1982
. In 1983
, the single reached #34 on the Billboard Hot 100
chart in the United States.
The song tells the story of a man who boards a ferryboat and sets off. A storm approaches and the ferryman demands payment from the patron. The song's narrator warns the passenger not to pay the ferryman until the boat arrives at its destination on the other side.
The repetitive lyrics are believed to have a connection with mythology. The song describes the ferryman as "the hooded old man at the rudder," and seems to connect to the classic image of the Grim Reaper
, a hooded being (usually a skeleton) who leads lost souls to "the other side," also a lyric in the song. The ferryman demanding his payment is also similar to the Greek ferryman of the dead, Charon
. He demanded an obolus
(coin) to ferry dead souls across the River Styx
. Those who did not pay were doomed to remain as ghosts, remaining on the plane of the mare, the restless dead. Therefore in former cultures coins were laid below the tongues of dead persons.
In the bridge
of the song, lines from Shakespeare's The Tempest
can be heard, spoken very low by British actor Anthony Head
.
Many fans of the British science fiction show Doctor Who
believe that the actor who portrayed the "hooded old man at the rudder," in the video for the song is none other than Tom Baker
, the fourth actor to play the famous Time Lord
. Though he and Chris de Burgh deny this, the rumour persists.
This song was referenced in a Trailer Park Boys
episode from season five: "You're not the one who waits to go to a Chris DeBurgh concert for three and a half years so I can go in and miss the encore of Don't Pay the Ferryman because I'm on the phone in the foyer, talking about stolen shopping carts!" - Gary, mall security attendant, to Bubbles
The song also received a memorable reference on Mystery Science Theater 3000
, in the Season 6 episode "High School Big Shot
". Tom Servo
continually sings portions of the song when a ferry appears on screen until Mike
picks him up and throws him across the theater in frustration. Tom Servo
also sings the song while a particularly cheesy 80s rock anthem plays during the closing credits of the season 8 episode Space Mutiny
. Mike does not seem as upset when Servo sings it this time.
In 2003, a novel of the same name and loosely based on the song was released (as the first book of the 'Carthage Chronicles' series), written by Marcus J. Mastin
. The story takes place in upstate New York and chronicles the Ferryman's journey as he moves up the northern coast, searching for new souls to plunder. The novel has the same tone as a Hardy Boys adventure, yet darker in nature, as two buddies join together to halt the Ferryman's evil plans.
In 2006 the movie "The Ferryman" starring John Rhys-Davies
utilized the original version of this song for the credits. Also in 2006 the band Domain covered "Don't Pay the Ferryman" on their album Stardawn.
Chris de Burgh
Chris de Burgh is a British/Irish singer-songwriter. He is most famous for his 1986 love song "The Lady in Red".-Early life:...
from the album The Getaway
The Getaway (album)
The Getaway is singer Chris de Burgh's sixth original album, released on A&M Records in 1982. The album was spearheaded by the U.S. hit, "Don't Pay the Ferryman", a strangely upbeat, mythology-tinged ballad that evokes images of the Grim Reaper....
. It was produced in 1982
1982 in music
This is a list of notable events in music from 1982. 1982 was a big year in music with Madonna making her debut as well as the year that Michael Jackson released Thriller which became the world's best selling album and it still holds that title today....
. In 1983
1983 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1983.-January-April:*January – ZTT Records is founded.*January 8 – The UK singles chart is tabulated from this week forward by The Gallup Organization...
, the single reached #34 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart in the United States.
The song tells the story of a man who boards a ferryboat and sets off. A storm approaches and the ferryman demands payment from the patron. The song's narrator warns the passenger not to pay the ferryman until the boat arrives at its destination on the other side.
The repetitive lyrics are believed to have a connection with mythology. The song describes the ferryman as "the hooded old man at the rudder," and seems to connect to the classic image of the Grim Reaper
Death (personification)
The concept of death as a sentient entity has existed in many societies since the beginning of history. In English, Death is often given the name Grim Reaper and, from the 15th century onwards, came to be shown as a skeletal figure carrying a large scythe and clothed in a black cloak with a hood...
, a hooded being (usually a skeleton) who leads lost souls to "the other side," also a lyric in the song. The ferryman demanding his payment is also similar to the Greek ferryman of the dead, Charon
Charon (mythology)
In Greek mythology, Charon or Kharon is the ferryman of Hades who carries souls of the newly deceased across the rivers Styx and Acheron that divided the world of the living from the world of the dead. A coin to pay Charon for passage, usually an obolus or danake, was sometimes placed in or on...
. He demanded an obolus
Charon's obol
Charon's obol is an allusive term for the coin placed in or on the mouth of a dead person before burial. According to Greek and Latin literary sources, the coin was a payment or bribe for the ferryman who conveyed souls across the river that divided the world of the living from the world of the dead...
(coin) to ferry dead souls across the River Styx
Styx
In Greek mythology the Styx is the river that forms the boundary between the underworld and the world of the living, as well as a goddess and a nymph that represents the river.Styx may also refer to:-Popular culture:...
. Those who did not pay were doomed to remain as ghosts, remaining on the plane of the mare, the restless dead. Therefore in former cultures coins were laid below the tongues of dead persons.
In the bridge
Bridge (music)
In music, especially western popular music, a bridge is a contrasting section which also prepares for the return of the original material section...
of the song, lines from Shakespeare's The Tempest
The Tempest
The Tempest is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1610–11, and thought by many critics to be the last play that Shakespeare wrote alone. It is set on a remote island, where Prospero, the exiled Duke of Milan, plots to restore his daughter Miranda to her rightful place,...
can be heard, spoken very low by British actor Anthony Head
Anthony Head
Anthony Stewart Head , usually credited as Anthony Head, is an English actor and musician. He rose to fame in the UK following his role in television advertisements for Nescafé Gold Blend , and is known for his roles as Rupert Giles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and as Uther Pendragon in...
.
Many fans of the British science fiction show Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
believe that the actor who portrayed the "hooded old man at the rudder," in the video for the song is none other than Tom Baker
Tom Baker
Thomas Stewart "Tom" Baker is a British actor. He is best known for playing the fourth incarnation of the Doctor in the science fiction television series Doctor Who, a role he played from 1974 to 1981.-Early life:...
, the fourth actor to play the famous Time Lord
Time Lord
The Time Lords are an ancient extraterrestrial race and civilization of humanoids in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, of which the series' eponymous protagonist, the Doctor, is a member...
. Though he and Chris de Burgh deny this, the rumour persists.
This song was referenced in a Trailer Park Boys
Trailer Park Boys
Trailer Park Boys is a Canadian comedy mockumentary television series created and directed by Mike Clattenburg that focuses on the misadventures of a group of trailer park residents, some of whom are ex-convicts, living in the fictional Sunnyvale Trailer Park in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. The...
episode from season five: "You're not the one who waits to go to a Chris DeBurgh concert for three and a half years so I can go in and miss the encore of Don't Pay the Ferryman because I'm on the phone in the foyer, talking about stolen shopping carts!" - Gary, mall security attendant, to Bubbles
The song also received a memorable reference on Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mystery Science Theater 3000 is an American cult television comedy series created by Joel Hodgson and produced by Best Brains, Inc., that ran from 1988 to 1999....
, in the Season 6 episode "High School Big Shot
High School Big Shot
High School Big Shot is a 1959 film starring Tom Pittman as Marv Grant, a smart high school student whose plans for getting a college scholarship are threatened by his alcoholic father played by Malcolm Atterbury, and his relationship with the most popular girl in school. The plot is remarkably...
". Tom Servo
Tom Servo
Tom Servo is a fictional character from the American science fiction comedy television show Mystery Science Theater 3000 . Tom is one of two wise-cracking, robotic main characters of the show, built by Joel Robinson to act as a companion and help stave off space madness as Joel was forced to watch...
continually sings portions of the song when a ferry appears on screen until Mike
Michael J. Nelson
Michael John Nelson is a U.S. comedian and writer, most famous for his work on the cult television series Mystery Science Theater 3000 . Nelson was the head writer of the series for most of the show's 11-year run, and spent half of that time playing the on-air host, also named Mike Nelson...
picks him up and throws him across the theater in frustration. Tom Servo
Tom Servo
Tom Servo is a fictional character from the American science fiction comedy television show Mystery Science Theater 3000 . Tom is one of two wise-cracking, robotic main characters of the show, built by Joel Robinson to act as a companion and help stave off space madness as Joel was forced to watch...
also sings the song while a particularly cheesy 80s rock anthem plays during the closing credits of the season 8 episode Space Mutiny
Space Mutiny
Space Mutiny is a 1988 South African science-fiction action film about a mutiny aboard the spaceship known as the Southern Sun.- Plot :...
. Mike does not seem as upset when Servo sings it this time.
In 2003, a novel of the same name and loosely based on the song was released (as the first book of the 'Carthage Chronicles' series), written by Marcus J. Mastin
Marcus Mastin
Marcus J. Mastin is an American author, whose books include the thriller Don't Pay the Ferryman and its sequel Don't Fear the Reaper...
. The story takes place in upstate New York and chronicles the Ferryman's journey as he moves up the northern coast, searching for new souls to plunder. The novel has the same tone as a Hardy Boys adventure, yet darker in nature, as two buddies join together to halt the Ferryman's evil plans.
In 2006 the movie "The Ferryman" starring John Rhys-Davies
John Rhys-Davies
John Rhys-Davies is a Welsh actor and voice actor. He is perhaps best known for playing the charismatic Arab excavator Sallah in the Indiana Jones films and the dwarf Gimli in The Lord of the Rings trilogy...
utilized the original version of this song for the credits. Also in 2006 the band Domain covered "Don't Pay the Ferryman" on their album Stardawn.
External links
- Lyrics with guitar chords of Don't Pay the Ferryman (Link to this site can also be found on Chris de Burgh's official site)
External links
- review of The Getaway from Chris de Burgh's official site
- YouTube Video Don't Pay The Ferryman Video