Orchard House Media | The Ghostriders

An old cowpoke went ridin’ out one dark and windy day;
Up on a ridge he rested as he went along his way.
When all at once a mighty herd of red-eyed cows he saw;
A ploughin' through the ragged skies and up a cloudy draw.

Yippee aye yay. Yippee aye oh. Ghost herd in the sky.

Their brands were still on fire and their hooves were made of steel;
Their horns were 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 coming hard, and he heard their mournful cry.

Yippee aye yay. Yippee aye oh. Ghost riders in the sky.

Their faces gaunt, their eyes were blurred, their shirts all soaked with sweat;
They're tryin' hard to catch that herd but they ain't caught 'em yet.
'Cause they've got to ride forever on the range up in the sky
On horses snorting fire. As they ride on, hear their cry.

Yippee aye yay. Yippee aye oh. Ghost riders in the sky.

As the riders loped on by him, he heard one call his name (hey, Phil!):
“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!"

Yippee aye yay. Yippee aye oh. Ghost riders in the sky.

Need Someone Like You, Baby

Concept/Words by The Ghostriders

John Helgen - piano

Dave Michel - electric bass

Randy Ellingboe - drums

Brad Ellingboe, Steve Christenson - discussion

Little Deuce Coupe

Arranged by John Helgen

Brad Ellingboe - lead vocal

John Helgen - Wurlitzer piano

Dave Michel - bass

Randy Ellingboe - drums

Brad Ellingboe, Steve Christenson, John Helgen, Dave Michel - backing vocals

Little deuce coupe
You don't know what I got (you don't know what I got)
Little deuce coupe
You don't know what I got

Well, I'm not bragging babe, so don't put me down (deuce coupe)
But I've got the fastest set of wheels in town (deuce coupe)
When something comes up to me, he don't even try (deuce coupe)
'Cause if I had a set of wings, man I know she could fly

She's my little deuce coupe
You don't know what I got
(My little deuce coupe
You don't know what I got)

Just a little deuce coupe with a flathead mill (deuce coupe)
But she'll walk a Thunderbird like she's standing still (deuce coupe)
She's ported and relieved, and she's stroked and bored (deuce coupe)
She'll do a hundred and forty with the top end floored

She's my little deuce coupe
You don't know what I got
(My little deuce coupe
You don't know what I got)

She's got a competition clutch with the four on the floor
And she purrs like a kitten 'til the lake pipes roar
And if that ain't enough to make you flip your lid
There's one more thing, I got the pink slip, daddy

And coming off the line when the light turns green (deuce coupe)
Well, she blows them out of the water like you never seen (deuce coupe)
I get pushed out of shape, and it's hard to steer (deuce coupe)
When I get rubber in all four gears

She's my little deuce coupe
You don't know what I got
(little deuce coupe
You don't know what I got)

She's my little deuce coupe
(little deuce coupe)
Deuce coupe.

Tell Me You're Mine

John Helgen - piano, lead vocal

Dave Michel - electric bass

Randy Ellingboe - drums

Brad Ellingboe - trumpet

Steve Christenson, Brad Ellingboe, Dave Michel - backing vocals

Tell me you're mine, oh do not break my heart;
You broke it a thousand times before;
and if you'll say you're mine, I'll die.
Please kill me with your words, or I'll cry.

I've lived a life of continuous grief,
depression, despair and misery.
I know I can't go on no more;
Oh, what the heck is living for?

Oo oo oo oo oo oo, oo oo oo oo,
Oh oh, ah ah ah ah ah ah oo.

(trumpet solo)

Oo oo oo oo oo oo, oo oo oo oo,
Oh oh, ah ah ah ah ah ah oo.

You broke my heart into a zillion parts,
I'm insane, they've taken me away.
Excruciating pain ain't fine,
so call me and tell me you're mine.

Aloha, Oh!

Originally “Aloha, Oe” by Queen Liliʻuokalani

John Helgen - ukelele, lead vocals

Dave Michel - electric bass, slide guitar, vocals

Brad Ellingboe - vocals

Steve Christenson - vocals

How we hate to leave Hawai'i,

Now vacation time is done.

How we'll miss those white sand beaches

Where we had so darn much fun.

Aloha, Oh! Aloha, Oh!

Oh, land of tidal waves and huge volcanoes. (waka waka waka, waka waka waka)

Aloha, Oh! Aloha, Oh!

Hawai'i, now we must depart. (waka waka waka, waka waka waka)

Can we e'er forget your welcome?

Gee, it sure was real swell.

And now, that mem'ry fades to teardrops,

As we say our last farewell.

Hello, Don Ho! Hello, Don Ho!

Oh, land of tidal waves and huge volcanoes. ("Book 'em, Danno, Danno. Book 'em, Danno, Danno.")

Hello, Don Ho! Hello, Don Ho!

Hawai'i, now we must depart. ("Book 'em, Danno, Danno. Book 'em, Danno, Danno.")

What'n the Heck's Goin' On?

Steve Christenson - lead vocals

John Helgen - Wurlitzer piano

Dave Michel - electric bass

Randy Ellingboe - drums

Brad Ellingboe - trumpets

Some things in this world, they are simple as can be,

There's a right and a wrong, both clear to see.

But those who do choose to be loved and to love

will be challenged beyond what they've dreamed.

Well, I've been told about the birds and the bees.

But what did I expect but the honey and the trees?

The birds and the bees, the honey and the trees...

What'n the heck's goin' on?

Well, I've been told about the birds and the bees.

But what did I expect but the honey and the trees?

The birds and the bees, the honey and the trees...

What'n the heck's goin' on?

When I did learn those A-B-C's -

not talkin' 'bout the letters now; the birds and the bees...

the facts I did know, in my mind they sat,

but now when I'm involved I find it's harder than that.

Well, I've been told about the birds and the bees.

But what did I expect but the honey and the trees?

The birds and the bees, well, the honey and the trees...

What'n the heck's goin' on?

Take it, Band.
(instrumental break)

So, honey, I just wanted to let you know

that this is where I'm at - should we go on with the show?

We've got to learn to give, and also to take.

I'm slowly finding out that love is no piece of cake.

Well, I've been told about the birds and the bees.

But what did I expect but the honey and the trees?

The birds and the bees, the honey and the trees...

What'n the heck's goin' on?

Well, I've been told about the birds and the bees.

But what did I expect but the honey and the trees?

The birds and the bees, the honey and the trees...

What'n the heck - I say, what in the heck!

I say, what'n the heck's goin' on?

Tristan Blues

John Helgen - piano

Brad Ellingboe - trumpet

Dave Michel - electric bass

Randy Ellingboe - drums

Misty

Brad Ellingboe - lead vocal

John Helgen - piano

Dave Michel - fretless bass

Randy Ellingboe - drums

Look at me
I'm as helpless as a kitten up a tree
And I feel like I'm clinging to a cloud
I can't understand
I get misty just holding your hand

Walk my way
And a thousand violins begin to play
Or it might be the sound of your hello
That music I hear
I get misty the moment you're near

You can say that you're leading me on
But it's just what I want you to do
Don't you notice how hopelessly I'm lost?
That's why I'm following you

On my own
Would I wander through this wonderland alone
Never knowing my right foot from my left
My hat from my glove
I'm too misty and too much in love
I'm too misty and too much in love

Sentimental Journey

John Helgen - piano

Brad Ellingboe - trumpet

Dave Michel - electric bass, guitar

Randy Ellingboe - drums

Kaleidoscope (A Journey into the Subconscious)

John Helgen - piano, MiniMoog

Brad Ellingboe - trumpet

Dave Michel - fretless bass, MiniMoog

Randy Ellingboe - drums

Strings - Joan Windus, Lydie Olson, Kathy Thomson, Craig Gerstenkorn,

Sue Slack, Chris Dumbaugh, Bill Malone, Mim Nave

Strings arranged by John Helgen

These flowers, they bloom in May;
and like them, we go away.
To where, I don't know.
But I must really go.

And all of us, why are we here?
Living each day in this sweatbox of fears?
We must learn, we must strive, and call it a day
for we are puppets with nothing to say.

Have you ever wondered aloud
what it's like to fall from a cloud?
To dance, to be free, with no code of rules?
Then you can act without being a fool.

Why must we but sit around
ne'er to know what's up or down?
I am perching in a chair
with tunnel vision through the air.

Et cur sumus hic? Roga matrem tuam!

(spoken)
Kaleidoscope... why are we here?
Going round and round and round and round and round... Kaleidoscope... why are we here?
Remember when you were little you always played with a kaleidoscope?
The colors... man, they go round and round. Round and round. Think about it.
The mind, it's fascinating...

(aleatoric instrumental)

Yes, we can forge for ourselves
if we try, if we ring our own bell.
Remember, in us the future does lie
with that we must live and constantly strive.

Why are we here?

(Ghostriders reprise)

Original Liner Notes

We fluctuate. This humble but powerful statement affects humanity as a whole, and is pertinent to specific facets of (hu)mankind as well. As members of the human race, THE GHOSTRIDERS have indeed fluctuated during their long lifetime, learning from each other...absolutely nothing. From the early years of their formation, through the days of the Father-Son Banquet tour, and even after their debut and subsequent establishment on the stage of the Lion's Pause, the group has been characterized by spontaneous, rampant fluctuation, as well as growth. This record represents the culmination of that growth. It asks questions. It challenges each and every listener to examine life, and to reflect upon it. And it requires at least ten seconds (and no less) of accumulated laughter.

Listen, experience, and enjoy.