(Ghost) Riders in the Sky: Western Writers of America Poll #1 of the Top 100 Western Songs (2010)

Ghost Riders in the Sky

Published: 1948

Released: June 5, 1948

Genre: Country, Western

Songwriters: Stan Jones

"Ghost Riders in the Sky" is a cowboy western song written by Stan Jones, a forest ranger who wrote songs on the side. 

The melody is based on the song "When Johnny Comes Marching Home." The lyrics tell the tale of cowboy hell-riders, doomed to chase the Devil's cattle for all eternity. 

Hundreds of performers have recorded versions of the song.  Johnny Cash's 1979 recording and Vaughn Monroe's 1949 version are often cited as the most popular. In 2010, the Western Writers of America members chose "Ghost Riders in the Sky" as the greatest Western song ever. 

Vaughn Monroe

Songwriter Stan Jones recorded the original version of “Ghost Riders in the Sky” in late 1948 or early 1949. Fellow songwriter Eden Ahbez—best known for writing Nature Boy, a major hit for Nat King Cole—passed the song along to Burl Ives, who recorded it on February 17, 1949.  Ives released his version on Columbia Records later that month; it entered the Billboard charts on April 22, remained for six weeks, and peaked at No. 21. 

Vaughn Monroe

Meanwhile, Vaughn Monroe recorded his version on March 14, 1949, for RCA Victor. His recording debuted on the Billboard charts on April 15, 1949, stayed for 22 weeks, and reached No. 1—ultimately earning Billboard’s No. 1 ranking for the year.

Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash's rendition of "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky" was released by Columbia Records in April 1979 on his album Silver. The song debuted on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart on April 15, 1979. It remained on the chart for 16 weeks, reaching a peak position of No. 2 on July 27.

Cash's deep, baritone voice is haunting, telling the story of a cowboy who witnesses "Red-eyed cows" with "hooves made of steel" and "horses snorting fire." Cash performed a famous version of the song with The Highwaymen—a supergroup featuring Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson. 

Outlaws

The Outlaws' version of "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky" was released in 1980 as the lead single from their sixth studio album, Ghost Riders. The track transformed the traditional Western ballad into a high-energy Southern rock anthem. 

The song was a crossover hit, spending 15 weeks on Billboard's Hot 100 and peaking at No. 31 on March 7, 1981. The Outlaws' recording notably omits the final verse of the original song, which typically serves as a direct warning to the cowboy listener.

Movies

The Blues Brothers Band recorded the song as part of their 1998 film Blues Brothers 2000. The rock band Spiderbait did a cover as part of the 2007 film Ghost Rider.