I’ve been listening to this song over and over again. A lot of old English songs are very good. And I think they are a hundred times better than most of the English songs you hear nowadays on the radio or television.
From googling, I found a supposedly true-story that inspired the writing of this song:
The song was based on an actual incident that occurred aboard a southern bus bound for Miami. One of the passengers explained to the driver that he was just out of prison, having served three years for passing bad checks. In a letter to his wife, he had written that she didn’t have to wait for him; but, if she was still interested, she could let him know by tying a yellow ribbon around the only oak tree in the city square.
As the bus rolled down U.S. 17, nearing the man’s hometown of White Oak, Georgia, the driver was asked to slow down so that all could see whether the ribbon was in place. To the man’s tearful relief, it was. The driver pulled over and phoned the story in to the wire services, which spread it all over the country. Songwriters Irwin Levine and L. Russell Brown read it in the newspaper, then put together their million-selling ballad.
Click here for youtube video of this song.
Lyrics:
"Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree"
(As recorded by Tony Orlando & Dawn)
IRWIN LEVINE
L. RUSSELL BROWN
I’m comin’ home I’ve done my time
Now I’ve got to know what is and isn’t mine
If you received my letter tellin’ you I’d soon be free
Then you’ll know just what to do if you still want me
If you still want me.
Woah tie a yellow ribbon round the ole oak tree
It’s been three long years, do ya still want me
If I don’t see a ribbon round the ole oak tree
I’ll stay on the bus, forget about us
Put the blame on me
If I don’t see a yellow ribbon round the ole oak tree
Bus driver please look for me
‘Cause I couldn’t bear to see what I might see
I’m really still in prison and my love she holds the key
A simple yellow ribbon’s what I need to set me free
I wrote and told her, please
Woah tie a yellow ribbon round the ole oak tree
It’s been three long years do ya still want me
If I don’t see a ribbon round the ole oak tree
I’ll stay on the bus, forget about us
Put the blame on me
If I don’t see a yellow ribbon round the ole oak tree
Now the whole damn bus is cheering
And I can’t believe I see
A hundred yellow ribbons round the ole oak tree
I’m comin home, mmm hmm
Tie a ribbon round the ole oak tree
Tie a ribbon round the ole oak tree
Tie a ribbon round the ole oak tree
Tie a ribbon round the ole oak tree
Tie a ribbon round the ole oak tree
Tie a ribbon round the ole oak tree
(c) Copyright 1972 by Tridem Music. (c) Copyright assigned 1973 Five Arts Music.
(c) Copyright assigned 1973 Levine & Brown Music, Inc.
Aw, yeah! Nothing like good old “oldies” to listen to! *sniffs* … makes me remember the stuff I grew up on. (^ ^)