Ghost Riders in the Sky by Stan Jones

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Isolation Video 49 Ghost Riders in the Sky by Stan Jones recorded by Stephen Mendel on May 4, 2020

"Ghost Riders in the Sky" by Stan Jones, who was a forest ranger when he wrote and recorded the song solo in 1948. He then rerecorded the song with his group The Death Valley Rangers a few months later. Burl Ives recorded the tune in 1949. In 2010 the Western Writers of America declared it the greatest western song of all time. The song has been covered many, many times including by the likes of: Johnny Cash, Bing Crosby, The Outlaws, Vaughn Monroe , Frankie Laine, Burl Ives (again), Marty Robbins, The Ramrods and rock band Outlaws who covered it on their 1980 album Ghost Riders which left out the last verse. This version spent 15 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 31 in March 1981.
Some years ago I heard it sung by Buck Page, one of the founding members of the Riders of the Purple Sage.

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
Driving 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 you could feel
A bolt of fear cut through him as they thundered through the sky
For he saw the riders coming hard and he heard their mournful cry

Yipiei oh, yipiei ay, ghost riders in the sky

Their face's gaunt, their eyes were blurred
Their shirts all soaked with sweat
They're ridin' 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 snorting fire as they ride on, hear them cry

Chorus

As the riders rode 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
Tryin' to catch the devil's herd across these endless skies

Yipiei oh, yipiei ay,
Ghost riders in the sky
Ghost riders in the sky
Ghost riders in the sky