The Ames Brothers got their beginning in Malden, where all four were born. The act consisted of Joe (born 3 May 1921), Gene (born 13 February 1923), Vic (born 20 May 1925 - died 23 January 1978) and Ed (born 9 July 1927).
Born into a non-professional but musical family, the boys were brought up on classical and operatic music. Their parents, David and Sarah Urick, were Russian Jewish immigrants from the Ukraine who read Shakespeare and semi-classics to their nine children from the time they were old enough to listen.
The brothers formed a quartet with a cousin Lennie, and had been touring United States Army and Navy bases entertaining the troops and were offered a job at the Foxs and Hounds nightclub, one of the fanciest clubs in Boston. This one week engagement turned into several months when the word got around of their appearance. At the time, they were going by the name of the Amory Brothers, a name taken from Vic's middle name and they were becoming quite popular in the area. It was at this time that Joe decided to rejoin the group. He said they were just having too much fun together for him to miss out. Taking their act to New York they got a job with bandleader Art Mooney. One day while at Leeds Publishing Company in search of a song called "Should I" that their mother had asked them to sing, Milt Gabler of Decca Records heard them singing it and had them cut a few sides for Decca Records just before the ban which started in January, 1948.
A year later when the ban was lifted, the Ames Brothers were the first artists to record for Coral Records. The name Amory was shortened to Ames. They were swept into national top billing with their first hit record, "Rag Mop," in January, 1950. Doing radio shows for free at times just for the experience, they later became regulars on such shows as The Arthur Godfrey Hour. One of the first acts to appear on the original Ed Sullivan Show when it was known as Toast of the Town, they made their debut with him when the show was telecast live from Wanamaker's Department Store.
Soon, they were the top paid group in nightclubs and supperclubs everywhere and their popularity on television was nationwide. In 1956 they starred in their own show, The Ames Brothers Show, which was seen on Friday nights. It was the first syndicated television show to be shown in foreign countries.
Over their fifteen year career the prolific Brothers notched up 50 U.S. chart entries, 21 of them on the Coral label before signing with RCA Victor. The group disbanded in the 1960s but Ed Ames went on with a successful singing and acting career, including playing Daniel Boone's sidekick, Mingo, on the successful Daniel Boone television series (1964-1970).
They were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1998.
Riders in the Sky
The Ames Brothers 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 herd in the sky
Their horns wuz black and shiny and their hot breaths 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 cry
Yi-pi-yi-ay, Yi-pi-yi-o
Ghost riders in the sky
Their faces gaunt, their eyes were blurred, their 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' flame an' fire, as they ride on, hear them 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 lyrics of The Ames Brothers's song "Riders in the Sky" tell the story of an old cowpoke who encounters a supernatural phenomenon while riding alone on a dark and windy day. As he rests upon a ridge, he witnesses an astonishing sight: a massive herd of red-eyed cows plowing through the ragged skies and up a cloudy draw. The cows seem otherworldly, as their brands are still on fire and their hooves are made of steel. The cowpoke feels a bolt of fear as he senses the powerful force of the ghost riders approaching, their mournful cry echoing through the sky.
The riders themselves are described as gaunt, with blurred eyes and soaked shirts, working tirelessly to catch the elusive herd. However, they never succeed and are condemned to ride forever in the range of the sky. These ghost riders are mounted on horses snorting flames and fire, creating a haunting image. As they pass by the cowpoke, one of them calls out to him, warning him to change his ways and save his soul from hell before he too becomes one of the ghost riders, forever chasing the Devil's herd across the endless skies.
This song blends elements of Western folklore, supernatural imagery, and moral themes. It metaphorically explores the consequences of one's actions in life and serves as a cautionary tale about the choices we make.
Line by Line Meaning
An old cowpoke went riding out one dark and windy day
On a gloomy day, an experienced cowboy set out on a horseback journey
Upon a ridge he rested as he went along his way
He took a break on a hillcrest while continuing his journey
When all at once a mighty herd of red-eyed cows he saw
Suddenly, he spotted a massive group of fierce-looking cattle
A'plowin' through the ragged skies and up a cloudy draw
These cows were galloping through the rough skies and ascending a cloudy path
Yi-pi-yi-ay, Yi-pi-yi-o
A chant expressing a sense of excitement and intrigue
Ghost herd in the sky
An otherworldly cattle procession taking place in the heavens
Their brands were still on fire and their hooves were made of steel
The cattle's identification marks were ablaze, and their hooves appeared invincible
Their horns wuz black and shiny and their hot breaths he could feel
The cows had sleek, black horns, and he could feel their scorching breaths
A bolt of fear went through him as they thundered through the sky
A sudden, overwhelming fear gripped him as the cattle thundered overhead
For he saw the riders comin' hard and he heard their mournful cry
He noticed the relentless riders approaching rapidly and heard their sorrowful wails
Their faces gaunt, their eyes were blurred, their shirts all soaked with sweat
The riders appeared emaciated, with blurry eyes and sweat-drenched shirts
They're ridin' hard to catch that herd but they ain't caught them yet
They were desperately riding to capture the herd, but their efforts were in vain
They've got to ride forever in that range up in the sky
They are condemned to ride eternally in the heavenly domain
On horses snortin' flame an' fire, as they ride on, hear them cry
Mounted on steeds exhaling flames and fire, their cries resonate as they continue riding
As the riders loped on by him, he heard one call his name
As the riders passed him with a steady gait, he heard one of them distinctly calling out his name
"If you want to save your soul from hell a' ridin' on our range"
"If you wish to redeem your soul and avoid eternal damnation riding alongside us"
"Then cowboy change your ways today or with us you will ride"
"Otherwise, cowboy, alter your behavior immediately, or you will ride with us"
"A-tryin' to catch the Devil's herd across these endless skies."
"Attempting to capture the Devil's cattle in these boundless skies"
Yi-pi-yi-ay, Yi-pi-yi-o
A chant expressing a sense of excitement and intrigue
Ghost riders in the sky
Supernatural riders wandering the celestial realms
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Stanley Jones
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Alana Tolstad
Love their 4-part harmonies...
Kokonut Binks
I found this song because I was using Soundhound on my phone to see if it could listen to vinyl records and pick them up as well as radio songs, and there's one part (around 2:10) that just happens to sound similar to Riders On The Storm by The Doors