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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!

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I just couldn’t resist the title, but the list this week is all about:
America’s Fourth of July Favorites

And here they are:

1. Hot dogs on the grill.

America loves hot dogs and of course they would because they’re the perfect mass market product and they smell so darn tasty when they’re grillin!
I went on a search for America’s Biggest Weinie, you know something like the largest hot dog ever created, but all I could find was the Wienermobile. This is probably one of the best advertising schemes by Oscar Meyer, excluding their other healthful product BOLOGNA.

My bolgona has a first name it’s O S C A R, my bologna has

a second name its M E Y E R.

2. Going to the local 4th of July parade.

Nothing is more American than waving your mini flag while the police department, Girl Scout troop, and fire trucks proudly march the biggest street in town.

Check out one American that decided to be part of the parade right after leaving the local bar. Thanks to mrwizard33 for sharing this clip on Youtube, here’s the info he provides:

Indian Jeff riding his 1912 HD single in the Burien, WA 1991 Fourth of July parade. He was “busted” for “parading without a permit” near the end of the parade route. For many years he would ride the single through a local tavern and come out the front door to join the other “old junk” in the parade. Permit? I don’t need no freakin permit!

3. Lighting fireworks, firecrackers, and other fire hazard materials.

This is illegal in many of the 50 states, but in some you can throw down as many firecrackers, and fireworks that you can load in the back of your Ford pickup.

I couldn’t find any safety videos on how to light fireworks, probably because it’s not safe. I did find an old clip about summer forest safety from Smokey the Bear, with guest star Vaughn Monroe, one of my favorite singers and bandleaders from the big band era. This clip puts the camp in campy.

4. Dressing up in stars and stripes.

Not only do grown up patriots like to show off their red, white, and blue attire with pride but they love to dress up their kids and pets too. It’s almost like wearing green on St. Patrick’s Day. You don’t want to be caught out in public without wearing your dress blues, and reds. So grab a sparkler, and put on your red, white and blue Wal-Mart tank top! It probably wasn’t made in the US but they did roll back the price.

5. Watching fireworks.

Of course this would be the grand finale of The 5! After all those tri-colored Jell-O shooters, weinies on the grill, and sitting under the hot sun on the sidewalk block or crowded beach, it’s time to ooh and ahh at the marvels of an ancient American tradition. Wait a minute! China was doing this thousands of years before us. Oh well, that’s what America is folks, a melting pot of ideas, traditions, and people all stirred up together into one fine pot of yummy American stew.

Happy Fourth of July!

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