THE RIFF SONG (1925)
From the Broadway Operetta "The Desert Song (1926)
(Music by: Sigmund Romberg /
Words by: Otto Harbach and Oscar Hammerstein II)

Robert Halliday (Broadway Production) - 1926
Harry Welchman (London Production) - 1927
Nat Shilkret & His Orch. (vocal: The Revelers) - 1927
John Boles (Film Soundtrack) - 1929
Dennis Morgan (Film Soundtrack) - 1943
Wilbur Evans - 1945
Gordon MacRae (Film Soundtrack) - 1953
Tony Martin - 1953
Nelson Eddy - 1953
Gordon MacRae - 1953
Earl Wrightson - 1955
Nelson Eddy (TV Production) - 1955
Giorgio Tozzi - 1959
Percy Faith & His Orchestra (vocal: Earl Wrightson) - 1959
Mario Lanza - 1960
Edmund Hockridge (London Production) - 1962
Gordon MacRae - 1963


Over the ground there comes a sound
It is the drum, drum, drum of hoofbeats in the sand

Quiver with fear if you are near
It is the thunder of The Shadow and his Band
(And all who plunder learn to understand)
(To understand the cry of.....)

Ho!
So we sing as we are riding
Ho!
It's a time you'd best be hiding
Low
It means the Riffs are abroad
Go
Before you've bitten the sword

Ho!
That's the sound that comes to warn you
So!
In the night or early morn, you know
If you're The Red Shadow's foe
The Riffs will strike with a blow
That brings you woe!

No darkest night can bring respite
For still the drum, drum, drum of hoofbearts in the air

No flying steed could match in speed
The swiftness of The Shadow's vengeance drawing near

Fear grips the heart, when they the message hear
As clarion clear the challenge

Ho!
So we sing as we are riding
Ho!
It's a time you'd best be hiding
Low
It means the Riffs are abroad
Go
Before you've bitten the sword

Ho!
That's the sound that comes to warn you
So!
In the night or early morn, you know
If you're The Red Shadow's foe
The Riffs will strike with a blow
That brings you woe!


******


As Recorded by Mario Lanza (Tenor) with
Raymond Murcell (Baritone) and Donald Arthur (Bass):


Over the ground there comes a sound
It is the drum, drum, drum of hoofbeats in the sand

Quiver with fear if you are near
It is the thunder of The Shadow and his Band
His Band will find you
(And all who plunder learn to understand)
(To understand the cry of.....)

Ho!
So we sing as we are riding
Ho!
It's a time you'd best be hiding
Low
It means the Riffs are abroad
Go
Before you've bitten the sword

Ho!
That's the sound that comes to warn you
So!
In the night or early morn, you know
If you're The Red Shadow's foe
The Riffs will strike with a blow
That brings you woe!

Ho!
So we sing as we are riding
Ho!
It's a time you'd best be hiding
Low
It means the Riffs are abroad
Go
Before you've bitten the sword

Ho!
That's the sound that comes to warn you
So!
In the night or early morn, you know
If you're The Red Shadow's foe
The Riffs will strike with a blow
That brings you woe!


(Contributed by Ferda Dolunay - July 2005)