the original ghost riders in the sky

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Riders in the Sky

In a town virtually owned by Rock McCleary, Ralph Lawson is in jail, framed for murder. Autry arrives to save his friend and win his friend's daughter Anne. In a town virtually owned by Rock McCleary, Ralph Lawson is in jail, framed for murder. Autry arrives to save his friend and win his friend's daughter Anne. In a town virtually owned by Rock McCleary, Ralph Lawson is in jail, framed for murder. Autry arrives to save his friend and win his friend's daughter Anne.

• John English
• Herbert A. Woodbury
• Gerald Geraghty
• Gloria Henry
• 9 User reviews
• 1 Critic review
• See more at IMDbPro

• Anne Lawson

• Julie Stewart

• Rock McCleary

• Ralph Lawson

• Marshal Riggs

• Old Man Roberts

• Luke - Stagecoach Driver

• Bartender Dave

• Willard Agnew
• (as Joe Forte)

• J.B. Galloway

• Stagecoach Passenger

• (uncredited)
• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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• Trivia Former Forest Ranger Stan Jones wrote "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky," a hit big enough that it crossed over from country-western charts to standard pop music. A chance meeting with Jones led Gene Autry to buy the rights to the song, and he gave Jones a part in the film. A nearly-complete Autry movie, Beyond the Purple Hills (1950) , was quickly retooled to include the song. Jones himself appears as a cowboy riding herd with Autry in the opening and closing scenes, singing along with Gene's rendition of the spooky song. That same year Vaughn Monroe had topped the charts with his version (#1 US Pop for 22 weeks). Over the years many others have recorded it, including Peggy Lee , Willie Nelson , Frankie Laine , Johnny Cash , The Marshall Tucker Band and The Doors . Jones would later compose the title song to the classic TV western series Cheyenne (1955) .
• Goofs When Gene puts McCleary in the stage at the end of their fight, it appears that McCleary still has a gun in his holster.

Chuckwalla Jones : Oh, ah, say Gene, you didn't have no trouble gettin' the, ah...

[makes money sign with thumb and forefinger]

Gene Autry : Got the money right here in my pocket - a roll big enough to choke Champ on.

Chuckwalla Jones : Oh, don't give him no ideas. He'd eat it, too, if it was green enough.

• Connections Edited into Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch (1976)
• Soundtracks Ghost Riders In The Sky Written by Stan Jones Sung by Gene Autry

User reviews 9

• FilmFlaneur
• Sep 26, 2000
• August 17, 1950 (Mexico)
• United States
• Beyond the Purple Hills
• Iverson Ranch - 1 Iverson Lane, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA
• Gene Autry Productions
• See more company credits at IMDbPro

Technical specs

• Runtime 1 hour 9 minutes
• Black and White

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(Ghost) Riders In the Sky by The Outlaws

Songfacts®:

• This was written and originally recorded by Stan Jones in 1948. Jones was a forest ranger who wrote songs on the side. After recording his version of the song, artists like Burl Ives, Bing Crosby, Gene Autry and Johnny Cash all recorded it, and the song became a cowboy standard.
• The melody is based on the song "When Johnny Comes Marching Home."
• The song presents an image of cowboy hell - riders who are doomed to chase the Devil's cattle for all eternity.
• More songs from The Outlaws
• More songs covered by Johnny Cash
• More songs from 1980
• Lyrics to (Ghost) Riders In the Sky

Comments: 29

• Arturo from Minnesota I was 8 and living on a ranch in Chile in '55 and would ride my horse at a gallop and sing this song. When I hear it now; I cry. One of the Best
• Edwin Bergstedt from 55733 Cool Old song
• Indianguide Oklahoma from Strang Oklahoma Nothing like this song ever. Thank you Stan Jones for a great ride.
• O J from Hartwell Ga I was born in late 42 an I don't remember what the year was but I saw the movie and maybe Vaughn Monroe singing the title song. Had to be in the early 50's. Can still see and hear those ghostly cattle and that haunting song, still remember a lot of the words.
• Barry from Sauquoit, Ny On this day in 1979 {July 22nd} "(Ghost) Riders In The Sky" by Johnny Cash peaked at #2 {for 1 week} on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart, for the week it was at #2, the #1 record for that week was "You're The Only One" by Dolly Parton... And on August 11th, 1979 it peaked at #1 {for 1 week} on the Canadian RPM Country Singles chart... Between 1955 and 2003 the Kingsland, Arkansas native had one hundred-twelve records on the Billboard Hot Country charts, forty-four made the Top 10 with thirteen reaching #1, plus he had seven peak at #2... Ten of his one hundred-twelve charted records were duets, eight with June Carter Cash and two with Waylon Jennings... He had three charted records as a member of the super quartet, The Highwaymen... 'The Man in Black' passed away at the age of 71 on September 12th, 2003... May Mr. Cash, June Carter Cash {1929 – 2003} and Waylon Jennings {1937 – 2002} all R.I.P. * "(Ghost) Riders In The Sky" was Johnny's seventh of nine of his records to peak at #2 on the Hot Country Singles chart... And from the 'For What It's Worth' department, the remainder of the Hot Country Singles' Top 10 on July 22nd, 1979: At #3. "Shadows In The Moonlight" by Anne Murray #4. "Save The Last Dance For Me" by Emmylou Harris #5. "Suspicions" by Eddie Rabbit #6. "Coca Cola Cowboy" by Mel Tillis #7. "Family Tradition" by Hank Williams, Jr. #8. "Amanda" by Waylon Jennings #9. "No One Else In The World" by Tammy Wynette #10. "Pick The Wildwood Flower" by Gene Watson
• Dennis from Kansas City, Mo I don't know if it ever made it on the charts, but my favorite version is by "The Sons of the Pioneers", follow very closely by the Marty Robbins version. And the many other versions after that. Thanks for allowing me to put in my two cents worth.
• Barry from Sauquoit, Ny On this day in 1949 {June 4th} "Riders In The Sky"* by Peggy Lee peaked at #2* {for 1 week} on Billboard's 'Records Most-Played By Disk Jockeys'* chart, for the week it was at #2, the #1 record for that week was Vaughn Monroe's version of "Riders In The Sky"... Ms. Lee's version "Riders In The Sky" reached #1 in Australia... Between 1941 and 1969 the Jamestown, North Dakota native had fifty five records on the Billboard charts, twelve made the Top 10 with two reaching #1, "Somebody Else Is Taking My Place" 1941 and "Manana" 1948... One of her fifty five charted records was a duet, with Mel Torme {"The Old Master Painter", #9 in 1950}... Peggy Lee, born Norma Deloris Egstrom, passed away at the age of 81 on January 21st, 2002... May she R.I.P. * "Riders In The Sky" was Peggy Lee's second of two of her records to peak at #2, her other #2 record was "Golden Earrings" for one week in January of 1948... And from the 'For What It's Worth' department, the remainder of the 'Most-Played By Jockeys' Top 10 on June 4th, 1949: At #3. "Again" by Gordon Jenkins #4. "Again" by Doris Day and the Mellomen #5. "'A' - You're Adorable" by Perry Como with the Fontane Sisters #6. "Careless Hands" by Mel Torme #7. "Forever and Ever" by Perry Como #8. "Again" by Vic Damone #9. "Again" by Mel Torme #10. "Forever and Ever" by Russ Morgan with vocals by the Skylarks
• Ken from Philadelphia, Pa On June 20, 1980, I saw the Outlaws with 100,000 others at old JFK Stadium in Philadelphia on a bill with .38 Special, Marshall Tucker Band, Molly Hatchett, and the Allmans. The early morning started with rain but, by the time .38 Special took the stage around noon, the sun was back and it was hot. JFK stadium was condemned and demolished less then 10 years later and it was definitely a dinosaur even then with just an endless expanse of concrete and bench seats exposed to the sun and not nearly enough cover or facilities for a fraction of the 100,000 who were there. As a result, 100,000 of us spent the afternoon positively baking under that sun and humidity that was (seemingly) at least 1,000%. The Outlaws were the last band up probably around 5 pm, and the crowd was wilted by then. We were doing our best, but the sun and the heat and humidity had gotten the best of us. Then, a miracle slowly began to unfold. The sky started to darken. The sun was quickly blotted out and a relatively cool breeze blew across the crowd. We were already used up by the heat, but this sure helped the crowd get a bit of their mojo back. The band was in top form which helped even more. They ran through a scorching set and as the band left the stage and through the interlude before the encore, the wind picked up, cooling things off even more, and giving us even more of our mojo back. We could now also hear thunder rumbling and see lightning flashes, which only made the newly energized crowd even more raucous. The band finally returned for the encore and the crowd exploded. Then, the coolest thing ever happened. Literally the second they strummed the first chords of “Ghost Riders...”, the heavens opened up and a wonderful cooling rain drenched us all. Five hours of the hot sun sucking the life out of disappeared in an instant. The band ripped through an white hot version of this song, while 100,000 fan, intoxicated by the cooling rain and amazing music coming out the PA, stood raptly... Nobody cheered. Nobody chanted. Nobody much cared that we were soaking wet and probably about to get struck by lightning. We just watched and listened and enjoyed. It was.. as a local DJ later described... downright religious. When the song was over, it was like we were completely renewed. I thought the cheering at the end of the song was so loud and so long I thought it was going the bring the stadium down like the walls of Jericho. Amazing day. Amazing song. Amazing band.
• Barry from Sauquoit, Ny On February 8th 1961, the Ramrods performed an instrumental covered version of "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky" on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'... At the time the song was at #55 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; and a week later it peaked at #30 {for 1 week} and spent 9 weeks on the Top 100... It was the group's only Top 100 record... Later in 1961 on September 25th Lawrence Welk's version of the song would enter the Top 100 at #91; and for the next two weeks it would be at #87 and then would fall completely of the chart.
• Patrick from Bremen, Ga Spike Jones (best known for "Der Fuehrer's Face" and "Cocktails For Two") recorded a version that made fun of Vaughn Monroe's version. Marty Robbins also recorded a version I like because it's slower than others, and a bit haunting.
• Jorge from Bronx, Ny The Outlaws and Johhny Cash i have,Haven't heard the other version yet,but the movie sucked,lol
• Beck from Vancouver, Bc There is an awful cover done by a heavy metal group called "Cradle of Filth". The Canadian group, Captain Tractor, has a version w/alternate lyrics.
• Marcus from Columbus, Oh This was done first with Vaughn Monroe & covered by various groups & people. The Ramrods did a good instrutmental featuring sound effects with calls noises & mooing cattle. This is something to see if you are high or not. The equalivent of that is a Funeral Caravan and it's 2 miles long and one person in a car warns the onlooker to change his way or ends up being part of the funeral caravan. This is a classic tune. Marcus Brainard
• Norma from Signal Mt, Tn I was born in'43 and my earliest memories of this song were hearing my Uncles,The Bald Eagles (Hartman Brothers) sing a version that they got from the Sons of the pioneers.I could not have been more than 5 or 6 years old at the time.
• Barry from Sauquoit, Ny On May 14th, 1949 "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky" by Vaughn Monroe reached No. 1 and stayed in the top spot for 11 consecutive weeks!!! {NOTE: The actual offical named is: "{Ghost) Riders in the Sky: A Cowboy Legend"}
• Barry from Sauquoit, Ny The British band "The Shadows" have a great version of this song on You Tube!!!
• Shawn from Prescott, Az Johnny cash has the best version of the song.
• Slyar from Coolidge, Az I like willy nelson and jhonny cash do this song together.
• Lester from New York City, Ny The guy that sings this song the best is Vaughn Monroe
• Oldpink from New Castle, In The Outlaws did it well, but no one could better the Man in Black's eerie basso profundo vocals on his version.
• Charles from Rialto, Ca Deborah Harry of Blondie fame did this song for the movie 3 Businessmen in which I have the soundtrack to
• Heather from London, United Kingdom i loved this song ever since i watched ghost ridder me and my dad love it cher! <3
• Dave from Des Moines, Ia The Ramrods, a surf-instrumental band did a nice version of this song in the early 60's. It broke the top 40 but was not a huge hit. The surf bit actually adds a lot to the song as well as the synch sound effects
• Gerardo from Monterrey, Mexico The Cash's version is simply the best. I think that the main character was seduced by the dark side.
• Jon from Oakridge, Or Love Cashes version.
• Chris from Milford, Ct hughie left skynyrd and is now back on tour with the outlaws
• Ken Spooner from Nashville, Tn It was also recorded by Vaugn Monroe in 49 or early 50's and the Ramrods as an instrumental circa 1962
• Chris from Troy, Mi The song was indeed written and recorded by Stan Jones, but the year was 1949.
• Dan from Lee, Nh Hughie Thomasson of the Outlaws later moved on to Lynyrd Skynrd.

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Ballad of America

Ghost Riders in the Sky: About the Song

“Ghost Riders in the Sky” was written in 1948 by American songwriter Stan Jones. The song is a cautionary tale warning a cowboy that if he doesn’t change his ways, he will one day join the damned cowboys doomed to try to “catch the Devil’s herd across these endless skies.” Jones said that an old cowboy friend told him that story when he was 12 years old. The song was a hit for many artists, including The Outlaws, Vaughn Monroe, Bing Crosby, Frankie Lane, Johnny Cash, Burl Ives, and Marty Robbins.

chorus: Yippee-I-aye Yippee-I-o Ghost riders in the sky

verses: An old cowpoke went ridin’ 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 Plowin’ through the ragged skies and up a cloudy draw

Their brands were still on fire and their hoofs 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 cry

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 ’em yet ‘Cause they got to ride forever on that range up in the sky On horses snorting fire – as they ride on hear their cry

As the riders loped on by him he heard one call his name If you wanna 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

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"Ghost Riders In The Sky" was a song written by Stan Jones in the late 1940s and successfully recorded by Vaughn Monroe, Burl Ives, Peggy Lee and Bing Crosby in 1950, all of whom enjoyed massive hit versions that year. "Ghost Riders" rapidly became established as a 'standard' and was regularly revived throughout the 50s by artists such as Dean Martin, Frankie Laine, Kay Starr, Jimmie Rodgers, The Brothers Four, Scat Man Crothers, Eddy Arnold, Roger Williams etc. In 1960, The Ramrods recorded a twangy, Duane Eddy like instrumental version which became a worldwide hit, inspiring countless similarly styled covers from American artists like The Ventures, Lawrence Welk, The Titans and The Original Surfaris, to European groups like The Scorpions (UK), The Spotnicks (Sweden), The Jumping Jewels (Netherlands), Die Playboys (Germany), Les Sunlights (France) and many more. This inspired compilation presents thirty memorable versions of "Ghost Riders", fifteen vocals and fifteen instro's. Many of these rare European instro versions are unavailable elsewhere on CD.

Product details

• Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.63 x 5.04 x 0.31 inches; 3.25 Ounces
• Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ Jasmine Music
• Item model number ‏ : ‎ CDJAS2651
• Original Release Date ‏ : ‎ 2019
• Date First Available ‏ : ‎ February 12, 2019
• Label ‏ : ‎ Jasmine Music
• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07NN6DT8C
• Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ Germany
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
• #278 in Easy Listening (CDs & Vinyl)

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(Ghost) Riders in the Sky

Riders in the sky.

About (Ghost) Riders in the Sky

"(Ghost) Riders in the Sky: A Cowboy Legend" is a cowboy-styled country/western song written in 1948 by American songwriter, film and television actor Stan Jones. A number of versions were crossover hits on the pop charts in 1949, the most successful being by Vaughn Monroe. The ASCAP database lists the song as "Riders in the Sky" (title code 480028324), but the title has been written as "Ghost Riders", "Ghost Riders in the Sky", and "A Cowboy Legend". Members of the Western Writers of America chose it as the greatest Western song of all time.   more »

 Become A Better Singer In Only 30 Days , With Easy Video Lessons!

Riders in the Sky is an American Western music and comedy group which began performing in 1977. Their style also appeals to children, and they are sometimes considered a children's band. They have won two Grammy Awards and have written and performed music for major motion pictures, including "Woody's Roundup" from Toy Story 2 and Pixar's short film, For the Birds. more »

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Written by: Hughie Thomasson

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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Know any other songs by riders in the sky don't keep it to yourself, image credit, the web's largest resource for, music, songs & lyrics, a member of the stands4 network, watch the song video, more tracks from the album, america's favorite cowboy songs.

• #1 Back in the Saddle Again
• #3 I Ride an Old Paint
• #8 Tumbling Tumbleweeds
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• #12 (Ghost) Riders in the Sky
• #13 Woody's Roundup [*]

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The Haunting Legend of ‘Ghost Riders in the Sky’ is Based on a True Story

Texas is full of lore, legends, and ghost stories. The tale of the Ghost Riders is by far the saddest, most evil, not to mention, the most famous one in the country. This legend is sadly true, a senseless ghoulish tragedy which took place in Crosby County, Texas. You may know it as Stampede Mesa. The legend inspired the classic song “Ghost Riders in the Sky.”

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It all began like any other cattle drive should have back in the fall of 1889. The weather had been less than cooperative; the cowboys were worn to a frazzle and the herd had been restless the entire trip. Late one night as they began climbing the slope to the top of the range near some water, a storm began brewing. They’d planned to set up camp just over the ridge near the water. Sawyer, the trail boss rode ahead to check out the surroundings and  look out for Indians. He was shocked to see a brand new homestead perched right on top of the hill. He’d taken this route hundreds of  times without incident, but now this was blocking his entire herd from crossing. It would take hours to go around it.

Sawyer became infuriated. Without explanation, he shouted and cursed and, waved a blanket high into the air to create a stampede. The nervous cattle scattered. Horses, some with riders, some without began running with all their might. His men obediently followed behind.  Sawyer was screaming, whipping at the animals, as lightning bolts began flashing through the sky.  The panicked livestock hurled straight through the farmhouse crushing everyone and everything in its path.  No one could hear the screams of the innocent as the animals raged through. Loud thunder and dark skies made the terrified herd keep running until they ran off of several nearby cliffs to their death. Horses holding the cowhands followed behind.

Near dawn, Sawyer  began surveying the devastating damage he’d caused. Below the mesa were nearly 700 dead steer. Lifeless cowpokes and their horses  scattered around them.  With no remorse in his soul, he ordered what was left of his hired help to round up the remaining three hundred cattle and hit the trail again.

When the drive ended, it’s said he never worked again. No one would work for him and try as he might, not a soul would hire him, even for menial tasks. Folks in that area turned their backs on him and he took comfort in liquor.He was never seen again

The following season, another trail boss and his men bedded down their herd on top of that same mesa which had been cleared of any previous devastation or debris.  The skies were perfectly clear. In the early hours of the morning, for no apparent reason, the herd charged. Again, most of them and four other cowboys riding  horses fell off the cliffs to their deaths. Unlike Sawyer, this trail boss was overcome with guilt and grief.  He, too, turned to the bottle and was never heard from again.

Several more attempts by other outfits which baulked at the previous  stories ended with the same results. Word spread, everyone believed evil was perched on top of Stampede Mesa.

Photo: Pixabay.com

All cattle drives from then on avoided that part of Texas.  Only lone horsemen and curiosity seekers pass through now. Stories of ghostly counterparts up in the sky have been witnessed along with claims of blood-curdling screams and sounds of angry hooves of phantom longhorns. People still swear today to the haunting in that part of the Texas sky.

This particular legend inspired songwriter Stan Jones to write a western melody in 1948 about this tableland in Crosby County, Texas. “Ghost Riders in the Sky” was set to an old Irish song called “Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ye”. This Texas legend has spread throughout the world through music.  Even if you’ve never heard the spooky legend of this evil, most likely you’ve heard the song.

Burl Ives was the first of more than 50 singers who have recorded this iconic tune. It’s become the most-recorded composed western song of all time. When Johnny Cash performed it, it topped the charts for months. The words remain exactly as they were originally written.

Video: YouTube/Johnny Cash

The lyrics of Ghost Riders in the Sky :

An old cowboy went ridin’ 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 Plowin’ through the ragged skies and up a cloudy draw 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 Ghost riders in the sky Their faces gaunt, their eyes were blurred Their shirts all soaked with sweat He’s ridin’ hard to catch that herd But he ain’t caught em yet Cause they got to ride forever in that range up in the sky On horses snortin’ fire as they ride on hear their cries As the riders loped on by him he heard one call his name ‘If you wanna 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 Ghost riders in the sky Ghost riders in the sky Ghost riders in the sky

The moral of this popular tune is simple. Living cowboys need to change their ugly ways and do the right thing. If not, they too will spend eternity in hell working the Devil’s herd of cows.

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Ghost Riders In The Sky [ORIGINAL RECORDINGS REMASTERED]

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"Ghost Riders In The Sky" was a song written by Stan Jones in the late 1940s and successfully recorded by Vaughn Monroe, Burl Ives, Peggy Lee and Bing Crosby in 1950, all of whom enjoyed massive hit versions that year. "Ghost Riders" rapidly became established as a 'standard' and was regularly revived throughout the 50s by artists such as Dean Martin, Frankie Laine, Kay Starr, Jimmie Rodgers, The Brothers Four, Scat Man Crothers, Eddy Arnold, Roger Williams etc. In 1960, The Ramrods recorded a twangy, Duane Eddy like instrumental version which became a worldwide hit, inspiring countless similarly styled covers from American artists like The Ventures, Lawrence Welk, The Titans and The Original Surfaris, to European groups like The Scorpions (UK), The Spotnicks (Sweden), The Jumping Jewels (Netherlands), Die Playboys (Germany), Les Sunlights (France) and many more. This inspired compilation presents thirty memorable versions of "Ghost Riders", fifteen vocals and fifteen instro's. Many of these rare European instro versions are unavailable elsewhere on CD.

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• Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 14.3 x 12.8 x 0.79 cm; 92.13 Grams
• Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ JASMINE RECORDS
• Item model number ‏ : ‎ CDJAS2651
• Original Release Date ‏ : ‎ 2019
• Label ‏ : ‎ JASMINE RECORDS
• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07NN6DT8C
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
• #1,268 in Soft Rock

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The Real Meaning Behind (Ghost) Riders In The Sky

Country music could be said to be one of the more down-to-earth musical genres out there. As the Norton School for the Arts notes, the genre as we know it emerged in Appalachia in the early part of the 20th century, combining elements of Celtic folk music and local rhythms. In the beginning, much of the lyrical content was about the poverty-stricken and hardscrabble lives lived by the performers, and that was largely the case for the next several decades; there's even an old joke that says that if you play a country song backwards, your wife comes back to you, your dog comes back to life, your truck starts working again, etc. Even today, most country music sticks largely to that formula, with the performers singing about, say, partying on the lake or enjoying life in a small town.

Over the decades, a few writers have attempted to take country music in a more mystical direction. For example, back in the 1970s, as Performing Songwriter reports, songwriter Jimmy Webb wrote a mystical country song about a human soul manifesting at various points in history. A few years later the song became a mega-hit when it was recorded by Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, and Kris Kristofferson.

A few decades earlier, another country songwriter took the genre in a mystical direction. And, Johnny Cash's recording of "(Ghost) Riders In The Sky" may be the most well-known version of that particular song.

Writing Ghost Riders In The Sky

As mentioned above, country music can trace some of its roots back to Europe; at least, musically if not lyrically. In the case of "Ghost Riders In The Sky," however, the songwriter was probably influenced by European legend.

As EsoterX notes, legends abound in parts of Europe — in particular what is now Germany, France, and parts of the British Isles — about the so-called "wild hunt." In this myth, a ghostly team of mounted riders on horseback thunder across the sky in pursuit of their quarry. In some versions, it's a portent of doom; in some, it's an actual danger in which the unwary can be swept up by the ghostly cavalcade; in others, it's both.

Fast forward a few centuries to the Old West in America, where there are wide open spaces, mounted horsemen pursuing their quarry in spades, constant danger (from stampedes, hostile enemies, disease, etc.), and long nights with little to do but tell tall tales over the campfire. It was a perfect stew of superstition that led to the legend being carried over here, with a quintessentially American twist.

And, a century or so later, a songwriter named Stan Jones remembered an old cowboy telling him the tale when he (Jones) was a young boy. So, he decided to pen a song.

A Morality Tale

Back in the 1920s or thereabouts, a young lad named Stan Jones happened to be in one of the most quintessential Old West parts of the country: the Cochise Ranch, in rural Southern Arizona. One day, according to the Arizona Republic , "a kid from town," as he was described by the newspaper, watched as a thunderstorm was getting ready to roll through. An "old cowboy," as EsoterX describes it, warned him to watch for the glowing red eyes of the Devil's cavalry, effectively teaching the young songwriter the American Old West version of the ancient European "Wild Hunt" legend. Fast forward to 1948, and Jones remembered the incident and penned the song, "Ghost Riders In The Sky."

Jones' song differs from the legend in that, in this context, it's less of a portent of doom and more of a morality tale. As noted by AZ Lyrics , a ghostly rider warns a cowboy to change his ways, lest he join the damned cowboys thundering across the sky. "If you wanna save your soul from Hell a-riding on our range, Then cowboy change your ways today or with us you will ride," the warning reads. In 1949, Burl Ives  (above) recorded the song, and it became a smash hit.

The Johnny Cash Version

Burl Ives, now largely remembered for voicing Sam the Snowman in the Christmas classic "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer,"  recorded a hugely-successful version of Jones' "Ghost Riders In The Sky," but he was not the first to do so, nor would he be the last. Jones himself also recorded a version , along with a backup group, the Death Valley Singers. Crooner Vaughn Moore recorded a version that went to number one, according to Daily Music Break . According to Wide Open Country , multiple other artists (including Finnish metal band Children of Bodom) also recorded their own versions of the song, with varying degrees of success.

However, the most well-known version of the song may be Johnny Cash's rendition , which never made number one, according to Billboard, but did manage to spend 16 weeks at number two in 1979. But, regardless of the multiple versions from multiple artists across multiple genres, the song is, at the end of the day, a country staple. So much so, that Western Writers of America has deemed the song the number one Western song of all time.

American Songwriter

Top 5 Covers of Elvis Costello Songs

Posted: October 24, 2023 | Last updated: October 24, 2023

Elvis Costello is one of the most accomplished songwriters in popular music history, so naturally, there is an abundance of great covers of his material. Given the deftness of Costello’s own performances, it’s an unenviable task to put one’s own spin on his tunes. When an artist manages to record one of Costello’s songs in such a way that reflects their own personality while doing justice to the original version, it’s a real feat.

These five covers of Costello originals do just that. While none may actually eclipse the quality of the original, each is a highly enjoyable listen on its own.

5. “Miracle Man” by Outlaws

These Southern rockers might not seem like an obvious candidate to cover a Costello song, but then again, this is the same band that pulled off a rollicking cover of the 1940s country classic “(Ghost) Riders in the Sky.” Still, putting their stamp on this tune from My Aim Is True required another gear, and they still made it work. The Outlaws version is more muscular but it still grooves, and the guitar solo makes this rendition of the song uniquely theirs. Credit goes to whoever realized that Outlaws could perform a more than credible Southern rock version of this Costello classic.

4. “ Party Girl ” by Linda Ronstadt

This was one of three Costello covers that Ronstadt recorded for her 1980 Mad Love album (plus she covered “Alison” on the preceding 1978 album Living in the U.S.A .). Ronstadt doesn’t wait for the outro, as Costello does, to turn up her vocal intensity, though she fully delivers in the song’s dramatic conclusion. Absent from Ronstadt’s version are the backing vocals that help create the final build-up in the original, but she creates enough power in her own vocal performance so that those additional vocals aren’t missed.

3. “ Two Little Hitlers ” by Todd Rundgren

Todd Rundgren put his version of the Armed Forces closer on his 1989 Nearly Human album. Right away, Rundgren differentiates his cover from the original by starting the song off with a drum roll instead of going straight into the vocals. His rendition also adds horns to the mix and features a splashier beat, creating a livelier version of this song about a relationship where each member of the couple is more interested in control than in communication. Toss in Rundgren at the height of his vocal powers, and the result is a thoroughly enjoyable listen.

[RELATED: Top 10 Todd Rundgren Essentials]

2. “ Deep Dark Truthful Mirror ” by Tasmin Archer

This is one of four Costello covers that appear on Archer’s 1994 Shipbuilding album. (The U.K. version of the record is a four-song EP consisting of only the Costello covers.) Gone are the piano and horns that dominate Costello’s original, as Archer replaces them with acoustic guitar and Hammond organ. Granted, it would be enjoyable to hear Archer sing the words from a furniture assembly instruction manual, but hearing her belt out this gorgeous Costello composition is a real treat.

1. “ Tear Off Your Own Head (It’s a Doll Revolution) ” by The Bangles

The Bangles thought enough of this cover to make it the opener and title track of their 2003 Doll Revolution album. Susanna Hoffs nails the lead vocals in her inimitable style, and the song is enhanced by The Bangles’ trademark harmonies. It’s almost as if Costello wrote it expressly for them. Then again, The Bangles have a way of making every cover they do feel that way. The track plays like a statement announcing their triumphant return, given that it kicks off their first studio album in 15 years.

The post Top 5 Covers of Elvis Costello Songs appeared first on American Songwriter .

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