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
A-plowin' through the ragged skies
And up a cloudy draw

Yippie-I-a, yippie-I-o
The ghost herd in the sky

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 commin' hard
And he heard their mournful cry

Yippie-I-a, yippie-I-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 devil's herd
But they ain't caught 'em yet'

'Cause ya gotta ride forever
On that range up in the sky
On horses snorting fire
As they ride on, hear their cry

Yippie-I-a, yippie-I-o
(yippie-I-a, yippie-I-o)
Ghost riders in the sky

As the riders loped on by him
He heard one call his name
If you wanna to save your soul
From hell or 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-a, yippie-I-o
(yippie-I-a, yippie-I-o)
Ghost riders in the sky