Riders In The Sky (Monroe Vaughn)

(Ghost) Riders In the Sky Vaughn Monroe Peak Billboard position # 1 in 1949 Monroe may not have sung it precisely this way but a recording by him was not available so the words and music herein are taken from the sheet music as written by Stan Jones Monroes' version, as well as competing versions by Peggy Lee (# 2), Bing Crosby (#14), and Burl Ives (# 21) were all charted as just "Riders In the Sky" Later, The Ramrods took it to # 30 in 1961 with the parenthetical (Ghost) added, as did the Baja Marimba Band (#52 in 1966) and The Outlaws (#31 in 1981) Lawrence Welk used the original title on his # 87 in 1961. An old cowpoke 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 A'plowin' through the ragged skies and up a cloudy draw Yi-pi-yi-ay, Yi-pi-yi-o Ghost riders in the sky Their brands were still on fire and their hooves were made of steel Their horns wuz black and shiny and their hot breaths 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 Yi-pi-yi-ay, Yi-pi-yi-o Ghost riders in the sky Their faces gaunt, their eyes were blurred, and shirts all soaked with sweat They're ridin' hard to catch that herd but they ain't caught them yet They've got to ride forever in that range up in the sky On horses snortin' fire, as they ride on, hear their cry Yi-pi-yi-ay, Yi-pi-yi-o 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" "A-tryin' to catch the Devil's herd across these endless skies." Yi-pi-yi-ay, Yi-pi-yi-o Ghost riders in the sky Ghost riders in the sky