Ghost Riders In The Sky

With Ghost Riders in the Sky, Stan Jones opened a great chapter in the history of country music as early as 1948. 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 a visionary song about a cowboy who sees cattle with red eyes 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. Moreover, European myths can be read between the lines in the lyrics.

Ghost Riders In The Sky

Ghost Riders in the Sky has become a classic by now, and almost all the big names of country music  made an attempt at its interpretation. Moreover, it seems the that the famous band The Doors took their inspiration from Ghost Riders in the Sky when they created their Riders on the Storm hit. From all the versions of the material, the one V. Monroe recorded in 1949 was the most popular climbing to 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, several rock musicians aimed at adapting the original country song to the more aggressive sounds and lyrics of rock music, and different success rates were scored. 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 violence has ever occurred. Despite these politically engaged messages that could be added to the Ghost Riders in the Sky, the majority of the performing artists are not aware of them, and sing the song without any reference to terrorist or Republican facts. Last but not least, Ghost Riders in the Sky also stood out as a starting point for the creation of engaged football club songs by supporters. Yet, with all the changes, it is clearly obvious that Ghost riders in the Sky made history in the country music tradition.