Subject: Ghost Riders in the Sky From: Date: 26 Nov 96 - 08:34 PM Would like the words to this song |
Subject: RE: Ghost Riders in the Sky From: Date: 04 Dec 96 - 09:45 PM Harmony Central has it. So does Ditigal Tradition. |
Subject: Lyr Add: RIDERS IN THE SKY (Vaughn Monroe) From: AWVALV2@pathway.net Date: 05 Dec 96 - 01:31 PM These lyrics were taken from the original 78-rpm recording by Vaughn Monroe around 1946- 1947. Riders In The Sky 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. Yippee-I-A, Yippee-I-O, The 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. 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. Yippee-I-A, Yippee-I-O, 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 ‘em yet. For they got to ride forever on that range up in the sky, On horse'es snortin' fire, as they ride on, heard their cry Yippee-I-O, Yippee-I-O, 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 a' ridin' on our range; Then cowboy, change your ways today, or with us you will ride. A' tryin' to catch that devil's herd, across these endless skies. Yippee-I-A, Yippee-I-O, Ghost Riders in the sky. Yippee-I-A, Yippee-I-O. Note: these lyrics appear to be almost exactly the same as was added to the Digital Tradition in April, 1997. -Joe Offer- |
Subject: Chords Add: RIDERS IN THE SKY From: ggolgar@gina.cello.calstate.edu Date: 04 Jan 97 - 01:16 PM An (Gm)old cow poke went riding out one (Bb) dark and iwndy day. Up (Gm)on a ridge the rested as he went a long his way. When all at once a (Eb) mighty herd of (Gm6) red eyed cow he (Gm7) A (Eb) ploughin thru the ragged skies (Cm7) And (Gm)up a cloudy draw. Yi-pi-yi- (Gm7) ya, (Gm) Yi-pi-yi-o. The (Eb) ghost herd (Cm7) in the (Gm) sky. (Final ending on a high F melody with a Gm7 chord) |
Subject: RE: Ghost Riders in the Sky From: Rodney Rawlings http://www.druid.com/~rodney/ Date: 13 Jan 97 - 05:42 PM I've always thought this was one of the greatest "message" songs I ever heard. Great lyrics, absolutely original melody. I would put this in a time capsule before many of the more boring works of the great composers as an example of what man is capable of artistically. |
Subject: RE: Ghost Riders in the Sky From: dick greenhaus Date: 13 Jan 97 - 09:32 PM Hi- The absolutely original melody is When Johnny Comes Marching Home again, moved from 6/8 time to 4/4.
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Subject: RE: Ghost Riders in the Sky From: Rodney Rawlings Date: 15 Jan 97 - 01:03 PM I don't know what that last message means, but suggest ending the thread and starting another if necessary. |
Subject: RE: Ghost Riders in the Sky From: ggolgar@gina.cello.calstate.edu Date: 16 Jan 97 - 07:36 PM THANKYOU !! I've known both tunes for virtually all of my cognizant life - yet never noticed. It is so apparent now. Amazing what a "beat" will do. |
Subject: RE: Ghost Riders in the Sky From: Rodney Rawlings Date: 17 Jan 97 - 09:38 AM Ah! Now I see what was meant. But I disagree. There are similarities at the beginnings of the two tunes, both melodically and harmonically; but they branch off radically. After all, it is rhythm that distinguishes many melodies from one another, since the pitch and harmonic possibilities are restricted. Someone once said genius only becomes evident after the first several bars of a tune. (See my home page on this very issue.) What Riders in the Sky does with its material is much more interesting than what WJCMH does with its. Very few melodies would be "original" if we ignored "rhythm." |
Subject: RE: Ghost Riders in the Sky From: Chris Sheffield Date: 17 Jan 97 - 06:50 PM Don't the lyrics have the same interesting blend of originality and derivitaveness as the tune, and isn't that why it is so good? After all the legend of riders doomed to ride indefinitely has been with us for a long time. In the case of King Herla, as related by Walter Map in the 12th Century it was until a small dog he was given jumped to the ground which needless to say never occurred (well not yet anyway). |
Subject: RE: Ghost Riders in the SkyË From: Rodney Rawlings http://www.druid.com/~rodney Date: 18 Jan 97 - 12:00 AM I don't think the tune IS derivative, for the reason I've stated. Notice how the similarities were obscured by the addition of notes, a change in the meter, and the going off in a new direction. This defines melody creation. I think the previous comment redefines "derivative" a bit. Composers develop and extend the musical language of melody; this does not make their works derivative. PS: Sorry if I got this thread off-topic. Those interested in such questions might want to visit my music theory page, then e-mail me if they want to comment. |
Subject: RE: Ghost Riders in the Sky From: Jeep man Date: 15 Jan 00 - 03:58 PM Thanks everyone for your help. Jeepman |
Subject: RE: Ghost Riders in the Sky From: Peter T. Date: 15 Jan 00 - 04:49 PM Hi, jeepman -- there have been a couple of other threads on this issue since late 1996. Gene Graham discussed the origins of the song and was generally interesting as ever -- you could do a forum search! (nostalgia bias: this was one of the original threads that got me into Mudcat in the first place. We ride on forever....) yours, Peter T. |
Subject: RE: Ghost Riders in the Sky From: Dan Duryea Date: 16 Jan 00 - 01:13 PM If Stan Jones was a working cowboy, I have trouble believing he knew all those obscure chords mentioned about 6 posts above (Gm....etc). I sure didn't. I'm no trained musician, but I put the capo up 2 and play in key of A form and it seems to work out pretty well. I remember when this song was popular. I was 8 years old and it was the first song that my young ears really perked up to when it came on the radio, which it did often back then (1949 I think it was). I suppose over the years I may have the tune mis-remembered but I don't think so. |
Subject: RE: Ghost Riders in the Sky From: Gary T Date: 16 Jan 00 - 09:23 PM That post with chords in the key of G minor doesn't necessarily imply that the song was written in that key. The chord sequence is fairly simple. In the key of A minor, the chords are Am, C, F, & Dm7 according the sheet music I saw. It's quite simple to transpose it to any key one wishes, and while playing in Gm is a lot harder for me than in Am (so I use a capo), the chord PATTERN remains unchanged in its simplicity. Chances are the poster just used the key he sings in, or one he saw in a book. By the way, Dan, I read your post to say you play it with A forms, but I assume you mean A minor forms? One thing I'm quite sure of, the song is in a minor key. |
Subject: RE: Ghost Riders in the Sky From: Peter T. Date: 16 Jan 00 - 09:29 PM I use Em (to G, etc.) on the guitar, works fine for me -- good bass too. yours, Peter T. |
Subject: RE: Ghost Riders in the Sky From: _gargoyle Date: 16 Jan 00 - 11:47 PM The chord sequence is obviously, whatever tonic/base chord you want to begin with.....transpose...to the most comfortable/appropriate key. |
Subject: RE: Ghost Riders in the Sky From: John in Brisbane Date: 17 Jan 00 - 07:11 AM I haven't heard Ghost Turds In The Sky since the death of a friend a few years ago. It refers to the Municipal Night Cart, and thechorus goes Shitty-I-O. Any clues please? |
Subject: RE: Ghost Riders in the Sky From: Sapper_RE Date: 17 Jan 00 - 04:46 PM Dick Greenhaus may have been correct! When Spike Jones and His City Slickers did their parody of Ghost Riders, they slipped into "When Jonney Comes Marching Home Again" towards the end. Given the supurb muscisianship of the band, it is possible that they picked up the link. Sapper |
Subject: RE: Ghost Riders in the Sky From: Lady McMoo Date: 18 Jan 00 - 11:46 AM Slight thread creep here! When I was once sitting in on a session at Glengarrif in Ireland quite a few years ago someone did a wonderful parody (I think he actually wrote the words too) "Joy riders on Spike Island" (it was an old prison on Spike Island in Cove Harbour where joy riders were sent at that time for what was popularly referred to as a "short sharp shock"!). His name escapes me for the moment although I'd instantly recognise it if I saw it. Do any 'Catters know who this is, or have the words? All the best, mcmoo |
Subject: Tune Query re "An Old Cow" From: Haruo Date: 23 Apr 05 - 08:01 PM I notice at ingeb.org this tune is called "An Old Cow". There's an "Old Cow" in the DT but without a MIDI. It scans. What's the connection? The DT's "Old Cow" seems to be from a "traditional source" (the Kenny Family from Kitchuses, Newfoundland) but it's undated. It fits the "Riders in the Sky" metrically except for not having the refrain (Yippie yi ya etc.). I'm assuming ingeb.org's MIDI name is from "Riders"' incipit (leaving "poke" off because of the eight-letter rule) but I'm not sure. I am putting this here because this thread already has some discussion of the "Riders" tune, and as far as I can see the question of "An Old Cow" hasn't been raised elsewhere on the 'Cat. Haruo |
Subject: RE: Ghost Riders in the Sky From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 24 Apr 05 - 04:52 AM I have heard Waltzing Matilda done to the commercially popular tune for this, and vice versa. |
Subject: RE: Ghost Riders in the Sky From: Cats Date: 24 Apr 05 - 06:02 AM ... and if you get fed up with those words, the words to Matty Groves fits the tune perfectly! |
Subject: RE: Ghost Riders in the Sky From: RobbieWilson Date: 24 Apr 05 - 03:13 PM It's the only one I sing Wild Rover to. |
Subject: RE: Ghost Riders in the Sky From: Jim McLean Date: 25 Apr 05 - 06:27 AM I wrote a song to this tune in the early sixties, called Ghost Tigers in the Sky. It was concerning Prince Phillips hunting and shooting and the Tiger had a Scottish accent! It went down well in Glasgow. |
Subject: RE: Ghost Riders in the Sky From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 25 Apr 05 - 07:53 AM So.... |
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