Johnny Cash Does Rendition Of '(Ghost) Riders In The Sky' On The Muppet Show

May 30, 2020 by apost team

Johnny Cash made an appearance on The Muppet Show Valentine's day 1981 in which he played and sang his rendition of the classic ( Ghost) Riders in the Sky  as the Muppets rode cows around the stage while covered in white sheets.

The year was 1981, so not exactly modern times, but not segregation days either. Johnny Cash, The Man in Black, paid a visit to The Muppets to perform his version of the classic hit (Ghost) Riders in the Sky. The video's an amazing array of barnyard shtick, but what really stands out are the two flags behind Johnny.

On the right are the Stars and Stripes, while on the left hang the Stars and Bars, that symbol of the Confederacy now associated with the alt-right and racist groups. It's hard to imagine a set dresser of a children's show in 2020 agreeing to a similar set design.

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The song itself is a country standard written by Stan Jones in 1948. It's been compared to Spancil Hill an Irish folk song from the 1870s, although the lyrics of (Ghost) Riders in the Sky focus more on the fate of the cowboy, while Spancil Hill focuses on the lost love of the immigrant. Both songs do share a sort of dream sequence motif, however.

The best charting version of (Ghost) Riders in the Sky was in 1949 by Vaughn Monroe, setting the standard for future covers by Marty Robbins and of course Johnny Cash. Cash's deep voice and extended version of the song with multiple solos and a horn section give the song more depth than earlier works.

In this video, The Muppets get into the song, riding about on their cows and providing a backing chorus, trumpet accents, and a banjo-picking furball. You might not recognize any of the best-known muppets in this video, as the cowpokes don white sheets and cowboy hats.

Along with the Confederate flag in the background, it makes for an awkward look back on TV programming. The audience loves it though, and you can hear them laughing as various Muppets hoot and holler along.

The video's a unique look on a bygone era. Johnny's in top form, his voice warm and rich. He clearly enjoys the humor of playing with The Muppets, and he gives a strong performance. Still, it's hard not to pick the Confederate Flag out of the backdrop and wonder if Cash might be judged differently today. Do you know somebody who might love to hear this version of the classic Ghost Riders in the Sky? Let us know what you think!