The Sons of the Pioneers did several songs for the John Ford movies Wagon Master (in 1949) and Rio Grande in (1950).
The six members who made the Sons of the Pioneers famous in the late 1930s with their close-harmonied western style music were elected into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1980. In 1995, they were inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
In 1977, the Smithsonian designated the Sons of the Pioneers as "national treasures". Through many changes to the line-up, the Sons of the Pioneers have continued to perform.
Ridin' Home
Sons Of The Pioneers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Evenin′s here at last
Moon comes up behind the hills I love
And I'm ridin′ home (he's ridin' home)
See that lonesome cowboy ridin′ down that lonesome trail
Moonlight shadows swayin′ to the tune of his lonesome wail
Well, he's ridin′ home (he's ridin home)
Bed down dogies, rest awhile
I′ll be back tomorrow morn'
And take you down to where the water′s cool
But now I'm ridin' home (he′s ridin′ home)
See that lonesome cowboy ridin' down that lonesome trail
Moonlight shadows swayin′ to the tune of his lonesome wail
Well, he's ridin′ home (he's ridin′ home)
I'm ridin' home
The first stanza of "Ridin' Home" by Sons of the Pioneers portrays a sense of satisfaction and relief in the singer's tone. The sun has gone down, and the work is finally done. The evening has arrived, and he can go back home after a long day of working. The mention of the moon coming up behind the hills symbolizes the beauty of nature surrounding the singer. He loves the hills and the landscape he lives in, and he is riding back to his home, which is implicit in the last line ("And I'm ridin' home"). The repeated line "He's ridin' home" signifies the joy the singer feels when he's heading back to his abode, which is where he finds solace.
The second stanza of "Ridin' Home" shifts from the perspective of the singer to that of a lonesome cowboy riding down a trail. The vivid imagery presented in this stanza sets the mood for the story. The cowboy is riding alone under the moonlight, and his shadows sway to the tune of his lonesome wail. The mention of the cowboy being lonesome and the shadows illustrates the cowboy's feelings of isolation and loneliness on his journey. The phrase "Well, he's ridin' home" could represent the longing for home that anyone has in their hearts, no matter how lonely or difficult their journey is.
Overall, "Ridin' Home" by Sons of the Pioneers is a song about finding solace in the beauty of nature and the happiness that comes from reaching your final destination. It conveys the peacefulness that someone feels while returning home after a long day of work.
Line by Line Meaning
Sun goes down, works all done
The day has ended and the work is completed
Evenin's here at last
Finally, it's evening time
Moon comes up behind the hills I love
The moon rises over my cherished hills
And I'm ridin' home (he's ridin' home)
I'm heading back home on my horse
See that lonesome cowboy ridin' down that lonesome trail
Observe that solitary cowboy trotting along a deserted path
Moonlight shadows swayin' to the tune of his lonesome wail
The shadows of moonlight sway as he sings lonely songs
Well, he's ridin' home (he's ridin' home)
He, too, is heading home on his horse
Bed down dogies, rest awhile
Lie down, little doggies, and relax for a bit
I'll be back tomorrow morn'
I'll be back in the morning
And take you down to where the water's cool
And guide you to a place where the water is refreshing
But now I'm ridin' home (he's ridin' home)
But for now, I'm headed back home
See that lonesome cowboy ridin' down that lonesome trail
Observe that solitary cowboy trotting along a deserted path
Moonlight shadows swayin' to the tune of his lonesome wail
The shadows of moonlight sway as he sings lonely songs
Well, he's ridin' home (he's ridin' home)
He, too, is heading home on his horse
I'm ridin' home
I am making my way back home
Writer(s): Bob Nolan
Contributed by Dylan D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Emmi R
Amazing, impeccable harmonies between these singers. Everlastingly awesome! 😇
Annie H
Thanks for posting! Love the Sons of the Pioneers!
John Jurkewicz
I love it it sounds great
gene t
How wonderful we can find these old songs with video on Youtube.
Ary Dabirnia
Los Angeles, people forget that before there was all the twinkling lights it was just a big cowboy backdrop.
Mark Giles
I don't know if this simple world ever existed--but I hope it did.
Upcame Hill
@Roger Propes Sounds good to me
Roger Propes
Yeah, all you had to do was hop a freight looking for the next job, and no blacks need apply.
Pat Doyle
🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵wonderful🌵🌵🌵🌵🐎🐎🐎🐎