Posted on 01/02/2023 9:10:38 AM PST by nuconvert
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 comin’ hard and he heard their mournful cries
Yippie I ohhh ohh ohh Yippie I aye ye ye 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 got to ride forever in that range up in the sky On horses snortin’ fire as they ride on hear their cries
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 I ohhh oh oh Yippie I aye ye ye Ghost riders in the sky Ghost riders in the sky Ghost riders in the sky
The writer said Burl Ives was the first to record, but it may have been Vaughn Monroe in 1949.
Other popular recordings were by Johnny Cash and Marty Robbins
Sorry, lyrics didn’t get formatted quite right.
Ghost Chickens In the Sky
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAjNuPc6Bi4
Great back story. I like The Outlaws version myself.
Wow, I had no idea that this was the story behind the song. How sad.
That’s the definitive version.
Neither did I. It’s horrific
Sons of the Pioneers version
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMqKv7BOg_s
My father had the 78 of Vaughn Monroe.
Burl Ives’ and Vaughn Monroe’s versions charted about the same time—late spring of ‘49—but Vaughn had the bigger hit.
I heard it first in ‘51 when I was two, and it’s been a favorite ever since. Didn’t know about the backstory, but it would require one like that.
You beat me to it. The bass player cracks me up.
Exactly right. #1 on the Hit Parade by VAUGHN MONROE the year I was born. It’s always been a favorite of mine.
What was the "mesa" is now a peninsula surrounded by the White River Lake.
One has driven through Post TX on the way to Lubbock from I20. Take FM 651 over to Kalgary and the lake is a few miles beyond that town.
That’s the best one.
It’s good. Kind of more modern.
Here’s Marty Robbins, nice guitar work tho a bit hard to hear
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fD5kS3G1Jkk
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