Monroe sang with some of the "Big Bands" of the '40s era, but his music transcended that style to become a popular radio and television personality - like Perry Como, Dean Martin, etc.
Riders in the Sky
Vaughn Monroe Lyrics
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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-ploghin' through the ragged skies, and up a cloudy draw
(Yippee-i-ay yippee-i-o)
A 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-i-ay yippee-i-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 'em yet
'Cause they got to ride forever on that range up in the sky
On horses snortin' fire, as they ride on hear their cry
Yippee-i-o yippee-i-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
(Yippee-i-ay) yippee-i-ay (yippee-i-o) yippee-i-o
Ghost riders in the sky
(Yippee-i-ay yippee-i-o)
The song "Ghost Riders in the Sky" tells the story of a cowboy who is riding on a dark and windy day and sees a herd of red-eyed cattle galloping across the sky. The cattle are driven by ghostly riders who are trying to catch them, but they can never seem to catch up. The cowboy is filled with fear as he watches the ghostly riders, and he hears their mournful cries as they travel across the sky.
The cowboy eventually hears one of the ghostly riders call out his name, warning him to change his ways if he wants to avoid riding with them on their eternal chase after the devil's herd. The chorus of the song, "yippee-i-ay yippee-i-o, ghost riders in the sky," serves to emphasize the eerie and supernatural nature of the ghostly riders.
The song captures the American frontier spirit and the myths and legends that often surrounded the cowboys of the Old West. It is a haunting and memorable tale that has been covered by many artists over the years.
Line by Line Meaning
An old cowpoke went riding out one dark and windy day
On a dark windy day, an old cowboy rode out on horseback
Upon a ridge he rested as he went along his way
As he rode along, he took a break on a ridge
When all at once a mighty herd of red-eyed cows he saw
Suddenly he saw a massive herd of red-eyed cows
A-plowin' through the ragged skies, and up a cloudy draw
They were cutting through the skies and over a hazy canyon
(Yippee-i-ay yippee-i-o)
A ghost herd in the sky
It was a ghost herd in the sky, as he exclaimed (Yippee-i-ay yippee-i-o)
Their brands were still on fire and their hooves were made of steel
Their flesh seared with fire, steel hooves striking hard
Their horns were black and shiny and their hot breath he could feel
As they charged, he felt their black, gleaming horns and their fiery breath
A bolt of fear went through him as they thundered through the sky
He was hit by a jolt of fear as they viciously thundered by
For he saw the riders comin' hard, and he heard their mournful cry
As the riders charged forward, he heard their mournful battle cry
(Yippee-i-ay yippee-i-o)
Ghost riders in the sky
The ghost riders were in hot pursuit, as he exclaimed (Yippee-i-ay yippee-i-o)
Their faces gaunt, their eyes were blurred, and shirts all soaked with sweat
The riders had sunken cheeks, bleary eyes and sweat-soaked clothes
They're ridin' hard to catch that herd, but they ain't caught 'em yet
Chasing the herd, but they haven't caught them yet
'Cause they got to ride forever on that range up in the sky
They'll ride forever through the endless skies
On horses snortin' fire, as they ride on hear their cry
Riding fiery horses and hearing their deafening war cry
Yippee-i-o, yippee-i-o
(Ghost riders in the sky)
He heard their call (Yippee-i-o, yippee-i-o) as the ghost riders chased across the sky
As the riders loped on by him, he heard one call his name
As they whizzed by him, one rider yelled his name
If you want to save your soul from hell a-ridin' on our range
To protect his soul from the rider's demonic grasp
Then cowboy, change your ways today, or with us you will ride
The rider warned the cowboy to change his ways or to ride with them
A-tryin' to catch the devil's herd across these endless skies
Chasing the Devil's herd forever across the skies
(Yippee-i-ay) yippee-i-ay (yippee-i-o) yippee-i-o
The cowboy heard them say (Yippee-i-ay) yippee-i-ay (yippee-i-o) yippee-i-o, as they faded away
Ghost riders in the sky
The ghost riders disappear as the cowboy repeats 'ghost riders in the sky'
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Stanley Jones
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind