Independence Day 2024
Ghost Riders in the Sky
by Stan Jones
An old cowpoke 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
Yippee-yi-oh, yippee-yi-aie!
The ghost herd in the sky
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 cry.
Yippee-yi-oh, yippee-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 them
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:
Yippee-yi-oh-, yippee-yi-aie
Ghost riders in the sky.
As the riders loped on by him,
he heard one call his name
“If you want to 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.”
Yippee-yi-oh, yippee-yi-aie
The ghost herd in the sky
Ghost riders
Ghost riders
in the sky . . .