"(Ghost) Riders In The Sky" lyrics

"(Ghost) Riders In The Sky"

An old cowboy went ridin' 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
Plowin' through the ragged skies, and up a 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-oh, yippie-yi-aie!
Ghost riders in the sky

Their faces gaunt, their eyes were blurred, their shirts all soaked with sweat
He's ridin' 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 snortin' fire, as they ride on, hear their cry

As the riders loped on by him, he heard one call his name
"If you wanna save your soul from Hell, a-ridin' on our range
Then cowboy, change your ways today, or with us you will ride
Tryin' to catch the Devil's herd, across these endless skies"

Yippie-yi-oh, yippie-yi-aie!
Ghost riders in the sky
Ghost riders in the sky
Ghost riders in the sky


Thanks to Zachary, Lucas Pintilie, Jim Ver Heule for correcting these lyrics.
Writer(s): Stanley Jones
This song was written and originally recorded by actor Stan Jones in 1948. He said that being a twelve-year old he heard a story about doomed ghost cowboys forced to chase the Devil's cattle forever.
Johnny Cash's version peaked at No.2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.
There are more than 50 versions of the song in different languages. Burl Ives, Bing Crosby, Gene Autry and Johnny Cash all recorded their versions of this track, and it became a cowboy standard.
Johnny Cash performed the song during his guest appearance on The Muppet Show in 1980.
This track was recorded live with Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson on the 1997 album "VH1 Storytellers".
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