In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
An old cowpoke went ridin' out one dark and windy day,
Upon a ridge he resred 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.
Yippy-I-Ay, yippy-I-oh!
A 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.
O 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!
Yippy-I-Ay, yippy-I-oh!
Ghost riders in the sky!
Their faces gaunt, their eyes were blurred and shirts all soaked with sweat,
They're ridin' hard to catch that herd, but they ain't caught them yet!
'Cause they've got to ride for ever on that range up in the sky,
On horses snortin' fire, as they ride on hear them cry;
Yippy-I-Ay, yippy-I-oh!
Ghost riders in the sky!
As the riders loped on by him, he heard one call his name,
"If you wanna save your soul from hell a-ridin' on this range,
Then cowboy, change your ways today or with us you will ride,
A-tryin' to catch the devil, sir, acroos these endless skies!".
Yippy-I-Ay, yippy-I-oh!
Ghost riders in the sky!
Yippy-I-Ay, yippy-I-oh!
Upon a ridge he resred 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.
Yippy-I-Ay, yippy-I-oh!
A 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.
O 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!
Yippy-I-Ay, yippy-I-oh!
Ghost riders in the sky!
Their faces gaunt, their eyes were blurred and shirts all soaked with sweat,
They're ridin' hard to catch that herd, but they ain't caught them yet!
'Cause they've got to ride for ever on that range up in the sky,
On horses snortin' fire, as they ride on hear them cry;
Yippy-I-Ay, yippy-I-oh!
Ghost riders in the sky!
As the riders loped on by him, he heard one call his name,
"If you wanna save your soul from hell a-ridin' on this range,
Then cowboy, change your ways today or with us you will ride,
A-tryin' to catch the devil, sir, acroos these endless skies!".
Yippy-I-Ay, yippy-I-oh!
Ghost riders in the sky!
Yippy-I-Ay, yippy-I-oh!
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Riders in the Sky Lyrics as written by Stanley Jones
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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