1. The Outlaws are Southe… Read Full Bio ↴There is more than one Outlaws on last.fm:
1. The Outlaws are Southern rock band formed in Tampa, FL.
2. The Outlaws were a house band for Joe Meek's recording studio.
1) The Outlaws are Southern rock band formed in Tampa, FL in 1972 by singers/guitarists Hughie Thomasson and Henry Paul, bassist Frank O'Keefe, and drummer Monte Yoho. With the 1973 addition of guitarist Billy Jones, the lineup was complete, and after a year of intense touring the band became the first act signed to Arista under Clive Davis; the Outlaws' self-titled 1975 album spotlighted their Eagles-influenced harmonies and Allman Brothers-like guitar attack, yielding the Top 40 hit "There Goes Another Love Song."
Harvey Dalton Arnold replaced O'Keefe on bass in time for the recording of Bill Szymczyk-produced Hurry Sundown. Henry Paul left shortly after the completion of that album, replaced by Freddie Salem. Old friend David Dix joined as a second drummer. Dix had played in teen bands with Thomasson. Dix was first heard on the live set Bring It Back Alive and the studio effort Playin' to Win. The lineup shuffles continued when Arnold announced his departure following 1979's In the Eye of the Storm, with bassist Rick Cua recruited for the next year's Ghost Riders in the Sky, which netted a Top 40 entry with its title track, a rendition of the Vaughn Monroe favorite. Yoho left to rejoin Henry Paul soon after, and with the subsequent exit of Jones, only Thomasson remained from the original Outlaws roster — not surprisingly, the group disbanded upon completing 1982's Los Hombres Malo. A year later Thomasson and Paul formed a new Outlaws lineup, with Steve Grisham on guitar. That resulted in1986's Soldiers of Fortune, Paul again quit the band. Grisham also had left and was replaced by a young Chris Anderson who became an integral part of the reunion tour in 2005.
In the early 90's,Thomasson kept on with the help of Chris Hicks on guitar and they with B.B. Borden on drums and Jeff Howell on bass released Hittin The Road and Diablo Canyon. Thomasson was then offered a gig with Lynyrd Skynyrd and took it, remaining with them until the end of 2004.
In early 2005 The Outlaws reunited with original members Thomasson, Henry Paul, Monte Yoho and former Outlaw from the 80's Chris Anderson with newcomers Randy Threet on bass, Dave Robbins on keyboards and also the return of drummer David Dix.
After 2005 ended, Paul and Robbins left. Thomasson, Anderson, Threet, Dix, Yoho and Anderson continued to tour and completed an album, "Once An Outlaw". Before it could be released, Thomasson died at his home in brooksville, Florida of a heart attack on Septemeber 9, 2007.
In early 2008 Henry Paul rejoined, bringing along with him former Henry Paul Band guitarist Billy Crain, and Brothers of the Southland keyboardist Jon Coleman. David Dix was no longer part of the lineup.
In July 2010, Coleman left to join Trace Adkins, and Dave Robbins came back.
The current band has recorded new songs as a "Demo".
The estate of Thomasson took on a legal battle with the current lineup. After a year and a half battle the court ruled in favor of Paul and company continuing to be able to perform as the Outlaws. Mrs.Thomasson appealed, but shortly after dropped the appeal.
The Outlaws hit the scene when Southern Rock was becoming a force to be reckoned with. Sharing the scene with bands like The Allman Brother's Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Marshal Tucker, and the Charlie Daniel's Band they had big shoes to fill. Blazing 3 guitar leads were a trademark of this "Cowboy-rock" group. Big hits included "Ghost Riders (In the Sky)" and "There goes Another Love Song" as well as the epic "Green Grass and High Tides".
'The Outlaws' (the same band) are also on Last.fm.
2) The Outlaws were a house band for Joe Meek's recording studio. They were originally formed to back Mike Berry for his 1960 single "Set Me Free", and went on to record several singles of their own from '61-'65, mostly instrumental. Among their ranks were notable musicians such as Ritchie Blackmore, Chas Hodges, Mick Underwood, Bobby Graham and Hot Chocolate's Harvey Hinsley.
Riders In The Sky
Outlaws Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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
The song "Riders in the Sky" tells the story of an old cowpoke who, while out riding one day, comes across a herd of ghostly cows and the riders who pursue them. The riders are the "ghost riders in the sky" and their task seems to be to chase down the cattle forever, never to rest. The cowpoke hears their mournful cries and feels a bolt of fear run through him as they pursue the elusive herd. The riders' faces are gaunt and their eyes are blurred, their shirts are soaked with sweat, indicating the difficulty of their endless journey. They ride on horses snorting fire and with horns that are black and shiny, indicating their supernatural nature.
The cowpoke hears one of the riders call out to him, warning him to change his ways before it's too late or he will join them in their endless journey. The song ends ominously, reiterating the presence of the ghost riders in the sky. The lyrics of the song suggest a moral imperative to be mindful of one's journey in life, or risk being trapped in the endless cycle of the ghost riders.
Line by Line Meaning
An old cowpoke went riding out one dark and windy day
One day, a weathered cowboy went on a horseback ride amidst the ominous weather.
Upon a ridge he rested as he went along his way
While traveling, he paused on a steep terrain to catch a break.
When all at once a mighty herd of red-eyed cows he saw
Suddenly, he was astounded by a colossal group of furious-looking cows.
A'plowin' through the ragged skies and up a cloudy draw
These cattle were charging through the rough skies and up a hazy mountain valley.
Their brands were still on fire and their hooves were made of steel
The cows' markings appeared to be aflame, and their hooves looked like they were constructed from metal.
Their horns wuz black and shiny and their hot breaths he could feel
Their black horns glistened under the light, and he could feel their warm breaths on his skin.
A bolt of fear went through him as they thundered through the sky
He felt an intense amount of fear as the cows made a deafening sound while rushing through the clouds.
For he saw the riders comin' hard and he heard their mournful cry
He witnessed the presence of riders pursuing the cows intently and heard them expressing a sad wail.
Their faces gaunt, their eyes were blurred, and shirts all soaked with sweat
The riders looked sickly, with blurry eyes and damp clothes due to their perspiration.
They're ridin' hard to catch that herd but they ain't caught them yet
Despite their attempts to capture the cows, they had not caught them yet.
They've got to ride forever in that range up in the sky
These riders had to spend an eternity riding through that range in the sky.
On horses snortin' fire, as they ride on, hear their cry
Their horses breathed out flames as they continued, and their mournful cries echoed throughout the area.
As the riders loped on by him, he heard one call his name
As the riders were passing by, one of them called out the cowboy's name.
"If you want to save your soul from hell a' ridin' on our range"
The rider warned the cowboy that if he did not change his ways, he would potentially suffer a damnation-like experience by riding on that range.
"Then cowboy change your ways today or with us you will ride"
The rider encouraged the cowboy to reform his ways at present, or else he would end up riding with them one day.
"A-tryin' to catch the Devil's herd across these endless skies."
The group of riders were in pursuit of the devil's herd across the endless expanse of the skies.
Yi-pi-yi-ay, Yi-pi-yi-o
This is a catchy refrain sung throughout the song without any significant meaning.
Ghost riders in the sky
The song's title is a metaphorical description of these spectral beings in the sky.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Stanley Jones
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@manueltubens535
Of all the versions of this song I've heard this is the best version.❤
@erikdinos1229
+1
@user-sf3gd3xp9s
Completely agree with you!
@tjsMAR
this and Johnny Cash's cover. Two ends of a spectrum but both the best at what they did
@juliehankinson4891
Excellent version. The Outlaws were so underappreciated.
@Whoozerdaddy
This pairs well with Marty Robins' The Master's Voice.
@TheChillMelodist
This is some real Cowboy Shit!
@AlfredFJones1776
Unlike Adam Page.
@user-ks3nj5bg4z
Yeeehaaawww!!!
@frankenlowe8014
I'm from Germany and heard this Song on a Stream before my Mothers Funeral. 😢
Long times it made me sad to hear. But now, as the hardest pain is gone, it's one of my 3 Favorite Songs. I also liked it before, but now it has a relationship to my mum.