an old cow polk went ridin out one dark and windy day upon a ranch 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 sky and up the cloudy draw ghost herd in the sky their brands were still on fire and their hoofs were made of steel their horns were black and shiney 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 coming hard and he heard their mournful cry yippee i yo yippee i yay ghost riders in the sky as the riders loped on by him he heard one call his name if you want to save your soul from hell youre ridin on that range then cowboy change your ways today or with us youll ride on tryin to catch the devils herd across these endless sky the ghost herd in the sky ghost riders in the sky