JONES, Stan

Riders in the Sky

An old cowpoke went riding out

one dark and windy day,

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 ploughin' through the ragged skies

and up a cloudy draw.

Yippee-yi-ay, yippee-yi-o,

The 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 thundered through the sky,

for he saw the riders coming hard

and he heard their mournful cry.

Yippee-yi-ay, yippee-yi-o,

…..

Their faces gaunt, their eyes were blurred

and shirts all soaked with sweat,

They're riding hard to catch that herd

but they ain't caught them yet

'Cause they've got to ride forever

on that range up in the sky,

on horses snorting fire

as they ride on, hear their cry.

Yippee-yi-ay, yippee-yi-o,

…..

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

a-try'ng to catch the devil’s herd

across these endless skies.

Yippee-yi-ay, yippee-yi-o,

…..