VOTD: Gary Brewer & the Kentucky Ramblers “Ghost Riders in the Sky”

Where Did Ghost Riders Begin

“Ghost Riders in the Sky” is a Western ballad written by American songwriter Stan Jones in 1948. The song tells the cautionary tale of a cowboy who witnesses a ghostly team of mounted riders on horseback thundering across the sky. These spectral riders are pursuing their quarry; their presence is eerie and foreboding. In some versions of the myth, encountering these ghost riders is a warning of doom, while in others, it poses an actual danger to the unwary. 

The song’s lyrics describe the cowboy’s encounter with the ghostly herd of cattle and their riders. The chorus hauntingly warns: “Yippie-yi-yay, yippie-yi-yo, Ghost riders in the sky.” The song is a powerful metaphor for the consequences of one’s actions. The cowboy is warned that if he doesn’t change his ways, he will eventually join the damned cowboys, forever chasing the Devil’s herd across the endless skies. 

After Stan Jones recorded the original version, several artists embraced the song, making it a cowboy standard. Notable covers include renditions by Johnny Cash, Burl Ives, Bing Crosby, and Gene Autry. Johnny Cash’s live performance of “(Ghost) Riders in the Sky” in Las Vegas is particularly memorable. 

The song’s melody is based on the traditional tune “When Johnny Comes Marching Home.” Its blend of Western themes, haunting lyrics, and memorable melody has made it a timeless classic.

Enjoy Gary Brewer and the Kentucky Ramblers’ performance of “Ghost Riders in the Sky”.

Video courtesty of Chuck Neel