A Word About the Tune: This is a country-western song, but it's based on an old cowboy folk legend, so I figure it counts as a folk song The classic hit version of this is by Vaughn Monroe from 1949, but there's been about a million other versions done by everyone from Burl Ives to Johnny Cash to the Outlaws to Spiderbait. It's a haunting, memorable tune that was the inspiration behind the Doors' "Riders on the Storm" and the Marvel character Ghost Rider (and the movie based thereon).

The version I first heard had the "Yippie-yi-yo/Yippie-yi-yay" parts sung in ghostly, far-off voices by the backup singers. That's the part I replaced with "Kanarazu/Getto da ze," which is Japanese for "It's certain I will/Catch them all." (I reeeeally like the irony of having the ghost trainers sing that here, heh.)


Ghost Tauros In The Sky
(Tune: "Ghost Riders In the Sky," Stan Jones)
by ShinyAeon

As I was training out alone, one dark and windy day,
Above a lonesome valley as I rested on my way,
All at once, a mighty herd of red-eyed bulls were there
Pounding up a cloudy bank and through the stormy air.

Kanarazu...
Getto da ze...!

Their hooves were loud as thunder and their horns were black as steel,
Their tails were whips of lightning and their hot breath you could feel,
And after them, I glimpsed the shapes of shadows in the sky—
Ghostly trainers running hard—and heard their mournful cry:

Kanarazu...
Getto da ze...!

Ghost Tauros in the sky...

The trainers' eyes were hollow and their T-shirts soaked with sweat,
They're running hard to catch'em all, but they ain't caught one yet;
For they've got to chase those Pokemon forever through the sky,
Always just a step behind...just listen as they cry...

Kanarazu...
Getto da ze...!

Ghost Tauros in the sky...

As the trainers passed me by, I heard one call to me;
Said, "If you want to save your soul from this eternity,
Then trainer, treat your Pokemon with all respect and care,
Or you will chase this demon herd all through the stormy air."

Kanarazu...
Getto da ze...!

Ghost Tauros in the sky...