Am C Am
An old cowboy went riding out one dark and windy day,
Am C Am
Up - on a ridge he rested as he went along his way,
Am F Am
When all at once a mighty herd of red-eyed cows he saw,
Am F F Am
Plowin' through the ragged sky, and up a cloudy draw,
Am C Am
Their brands were still on fire and their hooves were made of steel,
Am C Am
Their horns were black and shiny and their hot breath he could feel,
Am F Am
A bolt of fear went through him as they thundered through the sky,
Am F Am
For he saw the riders coming hard, and he heard their mournful cry.
Chorus:
C Am
Yippe-ai - oh, yippee-a i- ay, (Coyote Yip)
F Am
Ghost riders in the sky,
Break: One verse Instrumental Guitar & Banjo
Am C Am
Their faces gaunt, their eyes were blurred, their shirts all soaked with sweat,
Am C Am
He's ridin' hard to catch that herd but he ain't caught them yet,
Am F Am
Cause they've got to ride for - ever on that range up in the sky,
Am F F Am
All horses snortin' fire, as they ride on, hear them cry.
Am C Am
As the riders loped on by him, he heard one call his name,
Am C Am
If you want to save your soul from hell, a ridin' on our range,
Am F
Then cowboy change your ways today or with us you will ride,
Am F F Am
Trying to catch the devil's herd, a - cross these endless skies.
Chorus:
C Am
Yippe-ai - oh, yippee-ai - ay, (Coyote Yip)
F Am
Ghost riders in the sky,
F Am
Ghost riders in the sky,
F Am 11 bars
Ghost riders in the sky, then fade