Ferryman

I asked the old man about crossing the river
How much do you charge for the ferry boat?
He told us he wasn’t a fisher
He’d punt us across without asking
But caution was there in his rowing
For love like this, he said, don’t ever float

We stood at the heaviest door we could knock on
And asked if we might in there have some sleep
The innkeeper looked on us solemn
But welcomed us in without asking
His bread and his wine though was bitter
For love like this, he said, don’t ever keep

The harbour in moonlight was a peaceful picture
We asked if we might have our boat here dock
The fisherman’s eye watched us narrow
But still took our gold without asking
The other hand clutching an idol
For love like this, he said, will bring bad luck

And sure come the morning they came looking
They came wading cross the river
They knocked on the heaviest door
Put dirt on the floor
And took us down to the shore
And told us no more we could be

I asked the old man about crossing the river