An old cowboy 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'plowin' through the ragged skies
And up the 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, woah, yeah
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

Yipee-yi-o
Yipee-yi-ay
Ghost riders in the sky
In the sky

Whoa, Whoa, Whoa
Oh
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 them yet, no
(No, he ain't caught them yet)
They've got to ride forever
On that range up in the sky
On horses snortin' fire
As they ride on, hear their cry

As the riders loped on by him
He heard one call his name
If you want to 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

Yippee-yi-o (Yippee-yi-o)
Yippee-yi-ay (Yippie-yi-ay)
Ghost riders in the sky
In the sky, come on

Whoa, Whoa, Whoa
Oh
Ghost riders in the sky
(hooves running)
(thunder crashing)