Luckily three -fifths of a handful (literally three!) privately pressed vanity copies were manufactured in early 1970 one of which became the source material for Finders Keepers 6th LP in their expanding library of obscure, obtuse, obsolete and obsessive vintage music from the 60's and 70's. Uber legend John Hill who penned the acid-rock floor-filler 'LOVE,LOVE,LOVE,LOVE,LOVE,' for 'Wool' and 'Pacific Gas And Electric' produced the LP which featues 9 tracks including a Johnny Cash cover and a 12 minute 'drugsploitation' epic called 'Yesterday - Where's My Mind' featuring Susan flipping vocal styles between Janis Joplin and Margo Guryan (...who was in fact a close friend of Susans at the time of recording).
30 years ago, a Philly based folk singer named Susan Christie was dropped by her record company. After one novelty song, the label bosses didn’t think her melancholy take on country and solitude would ever be of any interest. Five copies of her album were pressed and faded into obscurity. Skip forward to present time, and a small label, ‘Finders Keepers’ salvages three out of these five copies and decides to release it.
Susan Christie’s album is a beautiful piece of despondent tales and folky psychedelia. The fascinating thing is that it sounds very current. The title track is reminiscent of Portishead , while other songs incorporate break heavy folk-funk, current DJ’s would die for.
Ghost Riders In the Sky
Susan Christie 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
Plowin through the ragid skies and up a cloudy draw
Yippie i aye ye ye
Yippie i ohhh ohh ohh
Ghost herd in the skies
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 cries
Yippie i ohhh ohh ohh
(Yippie i aye ye ye)
Yippie i ohhh ohh ohh
(Yippie i aye ye ye)
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
Tryin to catch the devil's herd across these endless skies
Yippie i ohhh oh oh
(Yippie i aye ye ye)
Yippie i ohhh oh oh
(Yippie i aye ye ye)
Ghost riders in the sky
Ghost riders in the sky
The song "Ghost Riders in the Sky," composed by Stan Jones and made popular by Johnny Cash, tells a vivid story about a cowboy who, while riding alone on a dark and windy day, sees a ghostly herd of cattle with fiery brands and metallic hooves thundering across the sky. As the cowboy watches in awe, he realizes that the riders are actually the spirits of damned cowboys, who are forever doomed to try to catch the devil's herd across the endless skies. One of the riders warns the cowboy that if he wants to save his soul from hell, he needs to change his ways immediately, or else he will be destined to ride with them forever.
The imagery in this song is captivating and eerie, with its themes of redemption, regret, and the afterlife. The ghost riders become a haunting metaphor for the consequences of our actions in life, and the importance of changing our ways before it's too late. The song's powerful vocals and driving percussion make it a standout in the country and western genre, and its popularity has endured for generations.
Line by Line Meaning
An old cowboy went rindin' out one dark and windy day
On a dark and windy day, an aged cowboy travelled on horseback.
Upon a ridge he rested as he went along his way
As the journey continued, he paused at a ridge and took rest.
When all at once a mighty herd of red-eyed cows he saw
Suddenly, he noticed a formidable group of red-eyed cows.
Plowin through the ragid skies and up a cloudy draw
They moved through the rough sky and into the clouds.
Yippie i aye ye ye
A triumphant and joyous exclamation.
Yippie i ohhh ohh ohh
A joyful cry of excitement.
Ghost herd in the skies
A spectral herd of cows that is flying in the sky.
Their brands were still on fire and their hooves were made of steel
Their burns were still aflame and their hooves were as strong as steel.
Their horns were black and shiny and their hot breath he could feel
Their horns gleamed blackly and their breaths were hot enough to be felt.
A bolt of fear went through him as they thundered through the sky
He was suddenly gripped by fear as they roared through the sky.
For he saw the riders comin hard and he heard their mournful cries
He noticed that the riders were approaching at a swift pace, and their cries were hauntingly sorrowful.
As the riders loped on by him he heard one call his name
When the riders passed by, one of them called out his name.
'if you want to save your soul from hell a-ridin on our range
The rider warned him that if he wanted to avoid eternal damnation while riding on their range,
Then cowboy change your ways today or with us you will ride
He needed to change his ways and become a better person, or be doomed to ride with them.
Tryin to catch the devil's herd across these endless skies
The riders were on an endless quest to capture the devil's herd of spectral cattle.
Ghost riders in the sky
Spectral horsemen in the sky.
Yippie i ohhh oh oh
A cheerful cry of excitement.
(Yippie i aye ye ye)
A celebratory cheer.
Yippie i ohhh oh oh
A joyful scream.
(Yippie i aye ye ye)
A lively exclamation.
Ghost riders in the sky
Spectral horsemen in the sky.
Writer(s): STAN JONES
Contributed by John L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@louiscolborn6715
The voice of a Angel
@lourdeslugo9815
Love this song
@davidlenander
Music that almost could have been.... Time passed it by? If things had worked out just a little different? Ever listened to the Carolyn Hester Coalition? Seems unlikely that country folk purity behind "The Praties they Grow Small" and "I'll Fly Away" could move to psychedelic band sounds in the late 60s. But it almost worked. That's what this makes me think of.
@siroswaldfortitude409
Would put her in the same category as the 'Poppy Family' and I love them both
@bnk57
Bones and butterflies tattoo traducianism.
@louiscolborn6715
What the hell are you talking about? Clown