Round-Up In The Sky
Sons Of The Pioneers Lyrics


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An old cowpoke went riding out one dark and windy day
Upon a ridge he rested as he went upon his way
When all at once a mighty herd of red-eyed cows he saw
Coming through the ragged sky, and up a cloudy draw.

Chorus:
Yippe-ai-ay, yippee-ai-oh
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 rumbled through the sky
Then he saw the riders coming hard, and he heard their mournful cry.

Chorus:
Yippe-ai-ay, yippee-ai-oh
Ghost herd in the sky.

Their faces gaunt their eyes were blurred their shirts all soaked with sweet
Their riding hard to catch that herd but they aint caught them yet
For they got to ride forever on that range up in the sky
As horses snorting fire, as they ride on hear their cries.

Chorus:
Yippe-ai-ay, yippee-ai-oh
Ghost herd 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 riding on our range




Then cowboy change your ways today or with us you will ride
Trying to catch the devil's herd, across these endless skies...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Sons of the Pioneers' "Riders in the Sky" tell the story of an old cowpoke who goes riding out one dark and windy day, and experiences a supernatural encounter with a ghostly herd of cattle and their riders. As he rests upon a ridge, he suddenly sees the red-eyed cows coming through the sky, accompanied by riders who are gaunt and blurred-eyed, riding horses that snort fire. The cowpoke is filled with fear as the riders rumble through the sky, and he can feel the hot breath of the metallic cattle. He then sees the riders coming hard and hears their mournful cry.


The chorus of the song repeats the words "yippe-ai-ay" and "yippee-ai-oh," which have become iconic phrases associated with the cowboy culture. The chorus also refers to the "ghost herd in the sky," emphasizing the spooky and supernatural theme of the song. The final verse of the song advises the cowpoke to change his ways and save his soul from Hell or risk riding with the ghostly herd, chasing the devil's cattle across the endless skies.


Line by Line Meaning

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.'




Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Stanley Jones

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Bill Akins


on The Devil's Great Grandson

"The Devil's Great Grandson" (Lyrics)
Recorded by Roy Rogers & The Son's Of The Pioneers
(Lyrics submitted by Bill Akins)

(The Devil's Great Grandson performed by the Sons Of The Pioneers and written by Bob Nolan. The tune was recorded in Los Angeles on December 14, 1937 and the group at that time was Roy Rogers, Bob Nolan, Lloyd Perryman and the Farr brothers.)

Old Skyball Paint was the devil's saint
His eyes were a fiery red
Good men have tried this horse to ride
And all of them are dead
Now I won't brag but I rode this nag
Till his blood began to boil
Then I hit the ground and ate three pound
Of good old western soil
Singin' Hi-ho lad don't you make me mad
I'm the devil's great grandson
And I'm doin' my best to tame the west
With my great big forty-four gun

(Light group harmony yodel)

I swore by heck
I'd break his neck for the jolt he gave my pride
I threw my noose on that old cayuse and once more took a ride
He turned around and soon
I found his tail where his head should be
So says says I Perhaps he's shy or he just don't care for me
Singin' Hi-ho lad don't you make me mad
I'm the devil's great grandson
And I'm doin' my best to tame the west
With my great big forty-four gun

(Only Roy Rogers STRONG yodeling, group harmony humming and ahhing along)

In town you see just to have a spree when
I meets old Sheriff Jim
With fistic fun and my big six-gun
I buys the town from him
For a whoop and a holler and a counterfeit dollar
Then I ask for a bill of sale
But my face turned red when the contract said just thirty days in jail
Singin' Hi-ho lad don't you make me mad
I'm the devil's great grandson
And I'm doin' my best to tame the west
With my great big forty-four gun

(Light group harmony yodel again)

Where the greasewood bats wear
Stetson hats and the bad men all run free
Where they sold the jail at a bargain sale
That's the land for me
Where the desert ants wear buckskin pants and help me rule the land
With the ants and the bats and my two gats
I'll rule with an iron hand
Singin' Hi-ho lad don't you make me mad
I'm the devil's great grandson
And I'm doin' my best to tame the west
With my great big forty-four gun

(Only Roy Rogers STRONG yodeling, group harmony humming and ahhing along)

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