I was whistling this legendary cowboy song the other day while running errands in my mini van. This isn’t a Halloween tune but it is about ghosts riding through the sky, a devils herd, and hearing mournful cries. The eerie chorus is haunting, yet catchy at the same time.

My favorite version has always been the Vaughn Monroe hit of 1949.

I was surprised to find so many different versions of the same tune. Turns out their was at least 50 adaptations, many of them all from 1949. Burl Ives  did a rendition which makes me think more of Frosty the Snowman than ghosts.

Here’s Elvis rehearsing the song in 1970 at the MGM soundstage.

 Another one by the Toy Dolls, showing off their radical 80′s shades, and killer drum beats:

And for all you comic book lovers out there, the rock cover by Spiderbait from the movie Ghost Rider starring Nicolas Cage.

Deborah Harry did a trance version you can listen to on her website: http://www.deborahharry.com/music/ghostridersinthesky.mp3

I’d love to hear the adaptations by The Doors, The Ventures, and Dean Martin. We can’t forget the one by Johnny Cash. I could sit here all day listening to these variations, watching those red-eyed, steel-hooved cattle thundering across the sky, being chased by the ghosts of damned cowboys. I could, but I have laundry, dishes and dusting to do.  Yippee-yi-ya, yippee-yi-yo!