January 17th, 2009 by admin

Ghost Riders in the Sky is a country song composed in the cowboy style in 1948 by Stan Jones. He had no clue about what a hit his song was going to become, as there dozens of rewrites and versions have appeared along the years. Ghost Riders in the Sky remains the song of a cowboy who red-eyed cattle chased by ghost cowboys in the sky. He is warned to improve his life style or never find peace in the after life and be damned for eternity. The song has strong echoes of European myths and it surely has a great artistic making.

Ghost Riders In The Sky

Ghost Riders in the Sky wrote music history, it became part of the tradition and almost all the big names of country music  made an attempt at its interpretation. Even the Riders on the Storm composed by The Doors, seems to find its sources in Stan Jones’ song. From all the variants of the material, the one V. Monroe recorded in 1949 was the best getting the first place in the Billboard charts of the year, and remaining in this position for more than five months.

Ghost Riders In The Sky

Ghost Riders in the Sky became part of the soundtrack of the movie Blues Brothers 2000, and then it inspired a heavy metal rendition by a German band. Along the years, other rock bands made attempts at combining the initial original country song with the message of the rock movement, and they enjoyed different levels of success. Beside rewrites, new versions and source of inspiration, Ghost Riders in the Sky also fueled all sorts of parodies from the Ghost Writers in Disguise to politically engaged lyrics that some listeners may not even be aware of.

Ghost Riders In The Sky

An Irish parody version of Ghost Riders in the Sky deals with the destruction of British helicopters by IRA members, although no such acts of violence were ever committed. Despite these politically engaged messages that could be added to the Ghost Riders in the Sky, the majority of the performing artists don’t see any such interpretation in the lyrics, and sing the song without pointing at terrorist or Republican facts. Last but not least, Ghost Riders in the Sky also served as a starting point for the creation of some football club songs by supporters. Yet, beyond all the remaking, it is clearly obvious that Ghost riders in the Sky marked history in the annals of country music.