(Ghost) Riders in the Sky: A Cowboy Legend (2024)

"(Ghost) Riders in the Sky: A Cowboy Legend" is acowboy-styledcountry/westernsong written in 1948 by noted American songwriter,Stan Jones.^[1]A number of versions werecrossover hitson thepopcharts in1949. TheASCAPdatabase lists the song as "Riders in the Sky" (title code 480028324^[2]), but the title has been written as "Ghost Riders", "Ghost Riders in the Sky", and "A Cowboy Legend".

Contents[]

[hide]*1Overview

• 2Recordings
  • 2.11948
  • 2.21949
  • 2.31960s
  • 2.41970s
  • 2.51980s
  • 2.61990s
  • 2.72000s
  • 2.82010s
  • 2.9Additional versions
  • 2.10Non-English versions
    • 2.10.1French
    • 2.10.2German
    • 2.10.3Lithuanian
    • 2.10.4Portuguese
    • 2.10.5Spanish
• 3References
• 4External links

Overview[edit][]

The song tells a folk tale of a cowboy who has a vision of red-eyed, steel-hooved cattle thundering across the sky, being chased by the spirits of damned cowboys. One warns him that if he does not change his ways, he will be doomed to join them, forever "trying to catch theDevil's herd across these endless skies". Jones said that he had been told the story when he was 12 years old by an old cowboy friend.^[3]The story resembles the northern European mythicWild Hunt.^[4]

More than 50 performers have recorded versions of the song. Charting versions were recorded byThe Outlaws,Vaughn Monroe("Riders in the Sky" with orchestra and vocal quartet), which topped the Billboard magazine charts, byBing Crosby(with theKen DarbySingers),Frankie Laine, Burl Ives (two different versions),Marty Robbins,The RamrodsandJohnny Cash. Other recordings were made byEddy Arnold,Peggy Lee(with the Jud Conlon Singers) andSpike Jonesand his City Slickers.Gene Autrysang it in the 1949 movie, "Riders in the Sky." Jones himself recorded it for his 1957 album "Creakin' Leather."^[5]Children of Bodom,Impaled NazareneandDie Apokalyptischen Reiterhave also made covers.

The melody is based on the song "When Johnny Comes Marching Home."^[6]According toRobby Krieger, it inspired the classicDoorssong "Riders on the Storm."^[7]

The song was also the inspiration for the Marvel Comics Western character "Ghost Rider" later renamed Phantom Rider (not to be confused with the later character named "Ghost Rider.")^{[citation needed]}

The song may have also been the inspiration for theREO SpeedwagonsongRidin' The Storm Out.

The chorus lines of this song are and have been since the 1960s a terrace song of theAston Villa Football Clubof England. The words have been modified to include the line "Holte Enders in the Sky," a reference to the occupants of the vast stand behind the goal at the southern end of the Villa Park stadium.^{[citation needed]}

The song is also referenced in theDef LeppardsongFoolin', with the line "On and on, we rode the storm".

Recordings[edit][]

1948[edit][]

• The original version byStan Joneshimself was recorded in late 1948, and composerEden Ahbezsent the song toBurl Ives, who recorded his own version a year later.^{[citation needed]}

1949[edit][]

• Burl Ivesrecorded the song on February 17, 1949, and the song was released byColumbia Recordsas catalog No. 38445. The recording first appeared on theBillboardcharts on April 22, 1949, lasting 6 weeks and peaking at No. 21.^[8]
• The version byVaughn Monroeand His Orchestra with Vaughn Monroe and The Moon Men on vocals, was recorded on March 14, 1949, and released byRCA Victor Recordsas catalog No. 20-3411 (in USA) and byEMIon theHis Master's Voicelabel as catalog No. BD1247, HN3014, HQ2071, IM1425 and GY878. The recording first appeared on theBillboardcharts on April 15, 1949, lasting 22 weeks and reaching No. 1.^[8]
• TheBing Crosbyversion was recorded on March 22, 1949, and released byDecca Recordsas catalog No. 24618. The recording first appeared on theBillboardcharts on May 6, 1949, lasting 6 weeks and peaking at No. 14.^[8]
• ThePeggy Leeversion was recorded on April 18, 1949, and released byCapitol Recordsas catalog No. 57-608. It reached No. 2 onBillboard'sMost Played By Disc Jockeys listing without appearing in the retail Top 30.
• Spike Jonesrecorded the song on May 24, 1949, and it was released byRCA Victor Recordsas catalog No. 20-3741. Copies of the original release, containing lyrics ridiculing RCA stockholder Vaughn Monroe, are rare. The recording parodies the original Monroe recording, injecting much of Jones' quintessential humor along the way.

1960s[edit][]

• The song was recorded by theNorman Luboff Choirand released on their 1960 album,Songs of the Cowboy.
• TheBrothers Fourrecorded a driven, up-tempo version. with edited lyrics and truncated to three stanzas, for their third LP,B.M.O.C.: Best Music On/Off Campusfor Columbia Records in 1961.
• A twangy guitar instrumental version byThe Ramrods‒ featuring the sounds of mooing cattle, bronco cheers, and sound of whips ‒ made theBillboardTop 30 in 1961 as well as the UK Top 10. This was covered by UK bandThe Scorpions(not the German rock band) on the "Parlophone" Label.
• The Venturesmade asurf rockcoverof the song in 1961. A live performance of the tune, featuringsurf rockbandThe Original Surfarisappeared in the 1962compilation albumentitledSurfs Up! At Banzai Pipeline. The performance incorporates the riff from theJorgan Ingmannhit, "Apache".
• Bob James, recording as The Bob James Trio, included it as the last track on his very first albumBold Conceptionsreleased in 1962.
• The Spotnicks, aSwedishinstrumental rock band, covered this song on their 1962 album,The Spotnicks in London, Out-a space.
• Frankie Lainerecorded the song on his 1963 album,Wanderlust.
• Dick Dalerecorded a surf-rock version for his second album,King of the Surf Guitar, released in 1963. For a time, this version accompanied a NASA montage as part of the preshow video onSpace MountainatDisneyland.
• CaliforniansingerPeter Tevisrecorded a version with orchestral and choral arrangements byEnnio Morriconefor the 1965 album,Un pugno di...West.
• Baja Marimba Bandrecorded this song on the album,Watch Out, in 1966.
• Davie Allan and the Arrowsrecorded two versions, one on the 1967Blues' Themealbum (Tower Records) and the other on the 2008Moving Right Alongalbum (Spinout Records).

1970s[edit][]

• Elvis Presleyrecorded it in June 1970 at MGM's soundstage inCulver City, California.
• Susan Christiereleased a version on her 1970 album,Paint a Lady.
• FormerREO SpeedwagonguitaristGary Richrathquoted the melody of the song during his unaccompanied guitar solo on the band's 1977 live album,Live: You Get What You Play For.
• Riders in the Skyrecorded this song for their debut album,Three on the Trail, in 1979 and on several of subsequent albums.
• Johnny Cashmade a recording of the song in 1979 for his album,Silver, which was faithful to the original. Johnny Cash also performs the song in his guest appearance onThe Muppet Showin 1980.

1980s[edit][]

• Country singer and rodeo cowboyChris LeDouxrecorded a version of the song for his 1980 albumOld Cowboy Heroes. LeDoux's version swaps the placements of "yippie yi yay" and "yippie yi oh", and refers to the cowboy instead as a "cowpoke".
• A version byThe Shadowsreached No. 12 on theUK Singles Chartin 1980. This version was a semitone higher than the original.
• Australianband The Fabulaires from Adelaide did a cover version on their Apocalypso 12" E.P. circa 1980.
• Rock bandOutlawsmade a recording on their 1980 albumGhost Ridersthat left out the last verse. They also released a live version of the song, recorded in 1982 at theKing Biscuit Flower Hourradio show, which appeared onGreatest Hits of The Outlaws... High Tides Forever
• Dean "Red Elvis" Reedrecorded the song on the album "Country" in 1982 inEast GermanyandCzechoslovakia.^[9][10]
• ASesame Streetversion entitled "The Dirtiest Town In The West" with altered lyrics first aired in 1982.
• TheDanishcowpunk bandDisneyland After Dark(later just D-A-D) recorded the songRiding With Suei 1986 for their albumCall of the Wildwhere the riffs from the melody was used in an intermezzo.

1990s[edit][]

• The Chaps released a Scottish parody version called "Rawhide" in 1982.
• Peter, Paul & Maryrecorded a parody of the song entitled "Yuppies in the Sky" on their 1990 albumFlowers and Stones.
• Terry Scott TaylorandDaniel Amosrecorded a version in 1990 that appeared onThe Miracle Faith Telethoncompilation album.
• Impaled Nazarenerecorded ablack metalversion of the song, which was released on theSadogoatEP in 1993. It was subsequently included in the CD version of their bonus album,Tol Cormpt Norz Norz Norz.
• The Alberta Celtic rock groupCaptain Tractorrecorded an unusual version for their 1994 albumLand. New lyrics describe the frenzy of corruption in a prairie town at the climax of areal estate bubble. Rather than fire-and-brimstone Christian imagery, the warning takes the form of vaguelyZenlamentations: "The winds still blow/The rains still fall/The trees don't seem to care at all!"
• Bucketheadplayed a dub style version of the song during hisGiant Robotalbum tour in 1994.
• Duane Eddybrought his electrified "twangy guitar" sound along with a sax edition byJim Hornto a 1996 version on an Curb AlbumGhost Rider^[11]
• On the 1997 album,VH1 Storytellers, the song was recorded live withJohnny CashandWillie Nelson. In that performance,Willie Nelsonmisses the start of the third verse because he forgets the text, and ends up switching the third and fourth verses.
• Deborah Harry, lead singer ofBlondie, recorded a trance version of the song, which features on the soundtrack to the filmThree Businessmen(1998). The song (produced and arranged byDan WoolandPray for Rain) is available free on her websitedeborahharry.com.
• Christopher Leerecorded a version of this song on the albumDevils, Rogues & Other Villains, released by Nikolas Schreck in 1998 on his Wolfslair label.
• In 1999,Ned Subletteincluded amerenguerendition on his album,Cowboy Rumba.

2000s[edit][]

• The Blues Brothersperformed the song in the movieBlues Brothers 2000as well as the movie's soundtrack & again on theThe Blues Brothers' Greatest Hits of all TimeCD. Similar to the "Rawhide" scene in the first movie, the band is mistakenly booked at abluegrassfestival (announced to the crowd as "The Bluegrass Brothers"). Buster Blues' (J. Evan Bonifant) harmonica parts for the film were recorded byJohn PopperofBlues Traveler.
• The German "Western Metal" bandDezperadoz(featuring a member ofSodom) covered the song on their 2000 album,The Dawn Of Dying.
• Dolan Ellis,Arizona'sOfficial State Balladeer since 1966, included this as the only cover on his CD,Tall Tales, Lost Trails & Heroes, released in 2000. He has sung the song throughout the nation and in 20 foreign countries, solo and as a member ofthe New Christy Minstrels, always telling the folk tale of Stan Jones, the Cochise County cowboy.
• TheTexasband,Ghoultown, recorded a version of this song on their albumTales from the Dead West(2000).
• Concrete Blonderecorded a version for their last album, 2004'sMojave.
• John Frusciante,Michael Rother, andJosh Klinghofferperformed a short instrumental version of the song live in 2004.
• German heavy metal band,Die Apokalyptischen Reiter, released a version titled "Ghostriders in the Sky" on their 2006 4-track EP,Friede Sei Mit Dir.^[12]
• Me First and the Gimme Gimmescovered the song on their 2006 albumLove Their Country.
• Art Greenhaw, Grammy Award-Winning guitarist, producer and leader of TheLight Crust Doughboys, recorded a world music fusion version of this song on the album "Lone Star Sitar" and released in 2006 on the Greenhaw Records label.^[13]
• During the credits of the 2007 movieGhost Rider, a rock cover by the bandSpiderbaitis played. An instrumental version is also heard at points in the film.
• Finnish melodic death metal bandChildren of Bodomcovered this song under the title 'Ghostriders in the Sky' and have released it on the special edition of their 2008 album,Blooddrunk.

2010s[edit][]

• Judy Collins, featuring theNashville Rhythm Sectionand Ghost Riders Chorus, covered ”Ghost Riders in the Sky” on her 2010 albumParadise.
• Florida/Utahdeath metal band, Gorlock, covered it on their 2011 EP entitledDespair is My Mistress.
• The song is the opening track onRoswell Rudd'salbum,Trombone For Lovers.
• A track onDrop The Lime's 2012 albumEnter The Nightused the instrumental of(Ghost) Riders in the Sky

Additional versions[edit][]

Versions in various genres have also been made by the following artists:

• All-American Boys Chorus
• Boston Pops Orchestra
• Dean Martin
• Dixie Chicks
• Frank Ifield
• Kaleidoscope
• Lawrence Welk
• Marty Robbins
• Mary McCaslin
• R.E.M.
• Roy Clark
• Scary Bitches (UK goth rock)
• The Tubes(under the track title, "Cowboy Fee & The Heifer's Dream")

Non-English versions[edit][]

French[edit][]

• A French-language version entitled "Les Cavaliers du Ciel" was released byLes Compagnons de la chansonin 1949.
• French guitarist and singer,Gill Dougherty, also released a version on his 1990 album,Live In Bourges.
• In 1992, another french language version entitled "Où tu iras" was released by Les Naufragés, on their album "A contre-Courant"

German[edit][]

• In 1949, a German-language version entitled "Geisterreiter" was recorded and released by East German entertainer, Rita Paul & Her Cornel-Trio. In the same year, a version was released by Gerhard Wendland. More than 20 covers of the German version are known, most notably by Howard Carpendale and Karel Gott.
• Additional German-language versions have been released by surf-punk-electro band, Mikrowelle, and television entertainer, Götz Alsmann featuring Bela B ofDie Ärzte.

Lithuanian[edit][]

• A Lithuanian-language version of the song etitled "Jupi Ja Je'" was recorded by Adolfas Jarulis ir Estradinės melodijos in 1971.

Portuguese[edit][]

• Brazilian artistMilton Nascimentorecorded a Portuguese-language version under the title "Cavaleiros do céu" released on his 1981 album,Caçador de Mim.

Spanish[edit][]

• In 1966, a Spanish-language version, "Jinetes en el cielo", was recorded and released by the Mexican group,Los Baby's.^[14]
• Mexican singerPedro Vargasalso recorded a version.
• The popular singer from Spain,Raphael, also released a Spanish version in the 1970s. The lyrical subject was changed to reflect a cowboy doomed to ride for eternity for breaking a young girl's heart. The song ends happily when the girl saves him from that horrible destiny by crying and praying for him then letting a rose fall on his grave.