“Ghost Riders in the Sky” is a country and cowboy-style song. It was written on June 5, 1948 by Stan Jones. A number of versions were crossover hits on the pop charts in 1949. The ASCAP database lists the song as “Riders in the Sky” , but the title has been written as “Ghost Riders”, “Ghost Riders in the Sky”, and “A Cowboy Legend”.
The song tells a folk tale of a cowboy who has a vision of red-eyed, steel-hooved cattle thundering across the sky, being chased by the spirits of damned cowboys. One warns him that if he does not change his ways, he will be doomed to join them, forever “trying to catch the Devil’s herd across these endless skies”. Jones said that he had been told the story when he was 12 years old by an old cowboy friend. The story resembles the northern European mythic Wild Hunt.
More than 50 performers have recorded versions of the song. Charting versions were recorded by The Outlaws, Vaughn Monroe (“Riders in the Sky” with orchestra and vocal quartet), by Bing Crosby (with the Ken Darby Singers), Frankie Laine, Burl Ives (two different versions), Marty Robbins, The Ramrods and Johnny Cash. Other recordings were made by Peggy Lee (with the Jud Conlon Singers) and Spike Jones and his City Slickers. Gene Autry sang it in the 1949 movie, Riders in the Sky. Jones himself recorded it for his 1957 album Creakin’ Leather. Children of Bodom, Impaled Nazarene and Die Apokalyptischen Reiter have also made cover
By Johny Cash
By The Ventures
By Ramrods
Lyrics
An old cowpoke went riding out One dark and windy day, Upon a ridge he rested as He went along his way, When all at once a mighty herd Of red eyed cows he saw, A-plowin’ through the ragged skies And up a cloudy draw. Yippee-yi-ya, yippee-yi-yo, Ghost herd in the sky. Their brands were still on fire and Their hooves were made of steel, Their horns were black and shiny and Their hot breath he could feel, A bolt of fear shot through him as He looked up in the sky, For he saw the riders comin’ hard And he heard their mournful cry: Yippee-yi-ya, yippee-yi-yo, Ghost riders in the sky Their faces gaunt, their eyes were blurred, Their shirts all soaked with sweat, They’re riding hard to catch that herd, But they ain’t caught ’em yet, ’cause they’ve got to ride forever on That range up in the sky, On horses snortin’ fire, as They ride on hear their cry: Yippee-yi-ya, yippee-yi-yo, Ghost riders in the sky.
The cowpokes loped on past him and He heard one call his name, If you want to save your soul from hell A-riding on our range, Then, cowboy, change your ways today, Or with us you will ride, A-trying to catch the devil’s herd Across these endless skies. Yippee-yi-ya, yippee-yi-yo, Ghost riders in the sky.