Aston Villa v SHA: Pre-match Thread

[Three Spires Villa]

I posted it as I assumed most wouldn't know how the original full lyrics.

I didn't know the words, in my stupidity I thought it was a reference to our departed Villa fans, DOH!!!!

[Holte132]

The original Ghost Riders in the Sky that our song is based on is very dark!

[QuintonVilla]

The original Ghost Riders in the Sky that our song is based on is very dark!

HEITS is sung way too fast these days. Sounds nothing like the original Ghost Riders tune anymore.

[achilles]

Villa win, all rational out the window and I don't care how it is achieved!

How can anybody vote for a slum dwellers win, that shouldn't even be an option! UTV

[Rigadon]

I posted it as I assumed most wouldn't know how the original full lyrics.

I certainly didn't.  Come to think of it, I can't remember that song being sung as a kid (80s) - might be memory playing tricks of course.  I wonder when did it start to be the main 'song'?

[Lsvilla]

I posted it as I assumed most wouldn't know how the original full lyrics.

I didn't know the words, in my stupidity I thought it was a reference to our departed Villa fans, DOH!!!!

Not just me then !

[PeterWithesShin]

I think most associate it that way now, I know I do. That's why I thought it might be a bit of interesting history to see the old lyrics.

[nigel]

Y'know, in my 50 years I've never seen those words. Thank you for sharing, sir.
As for the twitter post from One of Them, it really is rather sad.
one of Them goes by the twitter name of 'Fuck': really??!!

I always thought the 4th, 5th and 6th lines were:

'I said to that poor city fan Why do you run away?'
He said I've just looked up to see'
'Holte Enders in the sky'

[steamer]

i think it is,
I said to that city fan it looks like you must die, he said yes sir for i have seen, holte enders in the sky

[PeterWithesShin]

Like a lot of songs it's probably had a few different versions over the years.

[TopDeck113]

I posted it as I assumed most wouldn't know how the original full lyrics.

I didn't know the words, in my stupidity I thought it was a reference to our departed Villa fans, DOH!!!!

Not just me then !

Me, too. 

[andrew08]

I posted it as I assumed most wouldn't know how the original full lyrics.

I didn't know the words, in my stupidity I thought it was a reference to our departed Villa fans, DOH!!!!

Not just me then !

Me, too. 

I think it is that now.

[SoccerHQ]

I posted it as I assumed most wouldn't know how the original full lyrics.

You learn something new everday! I always just assumed HITS was just an innocent song celebrating/remembering all the people on the Holte End who've passed away down the years (no doubt the lurkers from the SHA forum will have a good chuckle at that...)

I've always thought if someone at the club had an idea to jazz up a chant and make it a sort of club anthem that would be ideal. That's me told.

[Holte132]

Here are the lyrics of the original

An old cowboy went riding out one dark and windy day
Upon a ridge he rested as he went along his way
When all at once a mighty herd of red-eyed cows he saw
Plowing through the ragged skies and up a cloudy draw

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 cries

Yippie I oh oh oh
Yippie I aye ye ye
Ghost riders in the sky

Their faces gaunt, their eyes were blurred, their shirts all soaked with sweat
He's riding hard to catch that herd but he ain't caught em yet
Cause they got to ride forever on that range up in the sky
On horses snorting fire as they ride on hear their cries

As the riders loped on by him he heard one call his name
'If you wanna save your soul from hell a-riding on our range
Then cowboy change your ways today or with us you will ride
Trying to catch the devil's herd across these endless skies

Yippie I oh oh oh
Yippie I aye ye ye
Ghost riders in the sky
Ghost riders in the sky
Ghost riders in the sky

[Brassneck]

The HEITS song originated in the mid 70s.  I distinctly remember it being sung at Wembley in the 75 final.

It was only the chorus (as it is today) and I was too young to go into pubs at that point.  However, a couple of years later, I began venturing into pubs and heard the full verses (there is actually another verse about fists of granite and coshes made of lead)

If Percy is about, he knows the full and correct version.  I do know that "streets" should be replaced with "gate" which obviously rhymes with "fate" in the first verse.