| Em | G | |
| An | old cowboy went riding out one d | ark and windy day |
| Em | |
| Up | on a ridge he rested as he went along his way |
| Em | C | |
| When | all at once a mighty herd of red eyed cows he s | aw |
| Em | |
| A-plowing through the ragged sky -- and up the cloudy dr | aw |
| Em | G | |
| Their br | ands were still on fire and their h | ooves were made of steel |
| Em | |
| Their h | orns were black and shiny, and their hot breath he could feel |
| Em | C | |
| A b | olt of fear went through him as they thundered through the sk | y |
| Em | |
| For he saw the riders coming hard -- and he heard their mournful cr | y |
| G | Em | |
| Yippie yi | ooh! Yippie yi | ay! |
| C | Em | |
| Gh | ost riders in the sk | y |
| Em | G | |
| Their f | aces gaunt, their eyes were blurred, their sh | irts all soaked with sweat |
| Em | |
| He's r | iding hard to catch that herd, but he ain't caught 'em yet |
| Em | C | |
| 'Cause they've g | ot to ride forever on that range up in the sk | y |
| Em | |
| On horses snorting fire -- as they ride on, hear their cr | y |
| G | Em | |
| Yippie yi | ooh! Yippie yi | ay! |
| C | Em | |
| Gh | ost riders in the sk | y |
| Em | G | |
| As the r | iders loped on by him, he h | eard one call his name |
| Em | |
| “If you w | ant to save your soul from hell a-riding on our range |
| Em | C | |
| “Then c | owboy change your ways today or with us you will r | ide |
| Em | |
| “Trying to catch the devil's herd -- across these endless sk | ies” |
| G | Em | |
| Yippie yi | ooh! Yippie yi | ay! |
| C | Em | |
| Gh | ost riders in the sk | y |
| C | Em | |
| Gh | ost riders in the sk | y |
| C | Em | |
| Gh | ost riders in the sk | y |
