Riders in the Sky
Sons Of The Pioneers Lyrics

An old cowpoke went riding out one dark and windy day
On a dark and windy day, an elderly cowboy went out for a ride.

Upon a ridge he rested as he went upon his way
As he traveled along his way, he stopped to rest on a ridge.

When all at once a mighty herd of red-eyed cows he saw
Suddenly, he saw a large group of cattle with red eyes.

Coming through the ragged sky, and up a cloudy draw.
These cattle were coming through the sky and moving through the clouds.

Their brands were still on fire and their hooves were made of steel
The brands on the cattle were still burning, and their hooves seemed to be made of metal.

Their horns were black and shiny and their hot breath he could feel
The cattle's horns were shiny and black, and the cowboy could feel the heat from their breath.

A bolt of fear went through him as they rumbled through the sky
The cowboy was afraid when the cattle started moving through the sky.

Then he saw the riders coming hard, and he heard their mournful cry.
Soon after, he saw some riders approaching quickly and heard their sad cries.

Their faces gaunt their eyes were blurred their shirts all soaked with sweet
The riders were tired and hungry; their eyes were blurry, and their clothing was drenched in sweat.

Their riding hard to catch that herd but they aint caught them yet
Although they were trying hard to catch the cattle, they hadn't succeeded yet.

For they got to ride forever on that range up in the sky
The riders would have to keep trying to catch these cattle in the sky forever.

As horses snorting fire, as they ride on hear their cries.
The horses seemed to snort flames as they continued to chase these elusive cattle.

As the riders loped on by him, he heard one call his name
As the riders moved past him, one of them called out his name.

If you want to save your soul from hell, a riding on our range
The rider warned the cowboy that if he didn't change his ways, he would end up in Hell.

Then cowboy change your ways today or with us you will ride
The rider urged the cowboy to change his behavior immediately, or else he would end up joining them.

Trying to catch the devil's herd, across these endless skies...
The riders were attempting to capture the cattle that seemed to belong to the devil and were always moving through the endless skies.

Chorus: Yippe-ai-ay, yippee-ai-oh Ghost herd in the sky.
This is the chorus of the song, featuring the repeated phrase 'Ghost herd in the sky.'