An old cowpoke went riding 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-plowing through the ragged sky
And up the cloudy draw.
Yi-pi-yi-ay, Yi-pi-yi-o
Ghost herd in the sky
Their brands were still on fire,
And their hooves were made of steel.
Their horns wuz 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 commin' hard,
And he heard their mournful cry.
Yi-pi-yi-ay, Yi-pi-yi-o
Ghost herd in the sky
Their faces gaunt, their eyes were blurred,
Their shirts all soaked with sweat.
They're ridin' hard to catch that herd,
But they ain't caught them yet
They've got to ride forever
On that range up in the sky,
On horses snortin' flame an' fire,
As they ride on, hear them cry.
Yi-pi-yi-ay, Yi-pi-yi-o
Ghost herd 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 the Devil's herd
Across these endless skies."
Yi-pi-yi-ay, Yi-pi-yi-o
Ghost herd in the sky