Stan Jones

“Ghost Riders in the Sky"

"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
Plowin' through the ragged skies
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-o
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 wanna 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-o
Yippie-yi-yay
Ghost riders in the sky
Ghost riders in the sky
Ghost riders in the sky”
― Stan Jones