Difference between revisions of "Ghost Riders"

Revision as of 22:01, 1 November 2020

A song originally written by Stan Jones in 1948. As a young teen, I often requested this song at the Shangri-la Hotel where Matthew and the Mandarins performed. I'm sure I saw Johnny Cash performing it on the Muppet Show when I was really young, and probably heard various versions on the radio.

Youn Sun Nah, Lento

An old cowboy 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-plowing through the ragged sky and up the cloudy draw

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 went through him as they thundered through the sky

For he saw the riders coming hard and he heard their mournful cry

Yippie yi ooh

Yippie yi yay

Ghost riders in the sky

Their faces gaunt, their eyes were blurred, their shirts all soaked with sweat

He's riding hard to catch that herd, but he ain't caught 'em yet

'Cause they've got to ride forever on that range up in the sky

On horses snorting fire

As they ride on hear their cry

As the riders loped on by him 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

Trying to catch the devil's herd, across these endless skies

Yippie yi ooh

Yippie yi yay

Ghost riders in the sky

Ghost riders in the sky

Ghost Riders in the sky

Johnny Cash, 1979, Silver                                              (+muppets)                                                Burl Ives (1949)