Tie A Yellow Ribbon lyrics by Tony Orlando, 11 meanings. Tie A Yellow Ribbon explained, official 2024 song lyrics | LyricsMode.com
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Tony Orlando – Tie A Yellow Ribbon lyrics

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Tony Orlando – Tie A Yellow Ribbon lyrics
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

CHORUS:

Tie a yellow ribbon 'round the old oak tree
It's been three long years
Do you still want me?
If I don't see a ribbon round the old 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 old 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 this:

REPEAT CHORUS

Now the whole damn bus is cheering
And I can't believe I see
A hundred yellow ribbons 'round the old oak tree
I'm comin' home
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Lyrics taken from /lyrics/t/tony_orlando/tie_a_yellow_ribbon.html

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Songwriters: Irwin Levine, Russell Brown
Tie A Yellow Ribbon lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Spirit Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Corrected by jinwei

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Tie A Yellow Ribbon meanings Post my meaning

  • U
    + 14
    Unregistered 2012-06-15 14:08:13
    This song is about a guy who just came out of 3 long years in prison and was looking for his former sweetheart. By doing so, he asked his sweetheart to tie a yellow ribbon around the old oak tree if she acknowledges his love. He was willing to tae the blame if she doen't love him anymore and would walk away from her. When he saw the tree, it was covered with one. But hundreds of yellow ribbons!
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  • U
    + 6
    Unregistered 2012-03-29 05:03:15
    Actually, it is about a man freed from prison. There was a videoshort that originally accompanied the song which played for the first time on the tony orlando and dawn show. The video short told the store of the man who had been in prison. He was afraid he would not be accepted back by his love. In the video short he is telling his story to the other passengers on the bus. They wait in anticipation to see if there will be a ribbon on the old oak tree. And, as the songs states, you know the rest.
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  • U
    + 5
    Unregistered 2012-02-16 13:42:20
    It could be either prison or military. Because a solider also "does his time". Recall that this song came out in 1973 which is when solders were returning from vietnam officially. However, all music is meant to touch the heart and soul of the hearer and that will be done based on the experience of the one who hears. For me today it has a different meaning then it did was I was 9 when it came out. Today, as I wait for my love to return from his duty, I understand that he may have trepidations about his return and what "is and isn't" his. Every month another ribbon will be added to my old oak tree until he returns.
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  • U
    + 5
    Unregistered 2012-01-29 12:31:14
    Actually a man was freed from jail after killing someone and during his captive life his wife did't contact him once. But he did't lose hope and sent letters to his wife throughout his captivity. At last for confirmation he sent his wife a letter comprising the fact that he'll be visiting his village and will come to his house if his wife ties up a yellow ribbon around the old oak tree. So he started his journey by asking a lift from a bus and he told his entire story to the driver. After reaching at his destination he saw the entire area's trees are tied with a yellow ribbon implying the villagers too greeted him gladly. That bus driver told this story to one of his friends who was also a singer. He composed this song which became famous.
    1 reply
  • U
    + 4
    Unregistered 2015-07-22 01:26:43
    This story always bothered me when I first heard it. Whether he was in prison or the military, his signal of welcome home, just seemed a little capricious, and fraught with many possible areas of miscommunication and confusion.
    Depending on the presence of a yellow ribbon on a tree, to make a decision on a lifetime of love and happiness was a little foolish. So much could go wrong, and he would ride off into the sunset... alone.
    Just the possibility that she would not get his letter was a start, and the writer even makes that point in the first verse... "If you received my letter..." She might still have strong feelings for him, and just didn't get the letter. Maybe she is out of town when it comes, visiting family or a long vacation. tsk tsk.
    And the fact he is already on the bus, heading out of town is a bad sign. If the ribbon's not there... "I'll stay on the bus, forget about us." In other words... get a ribbon on that tree girl, or you can forget about us, cause I sure will.
    His girl is going to think he is pretty flaky, hanging their entire future love, on a single instant of ribbon or a tree.
    She may definitely want him back, but misses the letter, or the bus schedule, which bus, even which "old oak tree", or gets the date wrong, through no fault of her own, dooming their lives to sadness.
    And all those issues are not even close to his own personal worry, which he inadvertently hangs out to dry.
    But, in the end, it all works out, and still chokes me up when I read it. Considering the possible screw-ups, they both got lucky.
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  • U
    + 1
    Unregistered 2012-02-03 20:12:40
    A man, after 3 years of serving his sentence in jail sent a mail to his woman asking if she still wants him. One way to find out if he is still welcome, he instructed his woman to tie a yellow ribbon around their old oak tree. On the day the man was set free and went home by a bus found out that a hundred yellow ribbons were tied to their old tree which means that he is very much welcome.
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  • U
    0
    Unregistered 2022-05-14 22:41:01
    I have been humming this song for weeks now...just happened to hear it on the air. Finally today I sat down and looked up the words. I too thought it was Military duty and he had done his time. So reading all these stories as to what different people thought really made me misty eyed. Now the words are in my mind and I can sing it when I hear it again or actually ask for it to by played. I love it...I am not sure the year this was popular I was probably busy with my growing family. However, today though late I am I learned about the real meaning and I have a much deeper appreciation of the lyrics. I can relate to prison and Military as my son was incarcerated but all my brothers and husband did their military stint. I can feel the anxiety on behalf of this fellow. I am glad she wanted him back nice ending.
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  • U
    0
    Unregistered 2020-04-21 06:52:10
    Actually, my comment is more a metal comment(about the other comments). I read all of the comments and now is a couple hours later and my brain has "mulled over" those comments. It occurs to me that these comments illustrate how things have changed since 1972,3. First of all, you people are so smug. Can't you appreciate the sentiment of a song without it insulting your intelligence? Silly love songs. What's wrong with that? I need to know. 'Cause here I go again! One commenter in particular criticized the song because they thought that the protagonist relied on chance too greatly to be plausible. That thinking betrays his age. Things were different in 1972,3. We did not have email. We did not have the ready source of information we have now. Back then, sometimes the best you could do was shoot craps! Also, another commenter was corrected about his recollection of when he saw what story versions he saw. This commenter has carried this sequence of events incorrectly in his mind for 40 years. That does not happen easily as it did back then because these days context is maintained by the fact that errors are corrected as fast as the internet will allow. We did not have this in 1972,3!
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  • U
    0
    Unregistered 2015-12-29 14:03:14
    The song has prison origins but became very popular during the Vietnam War (the time it was released by Tony Orlando and Dawn). Even today spouses of military still in combat tie yellow ribbons around trees - and there again, even now, you see yellow ribbons on vehicles with "Support Our Troops" phrases and such...
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  • U
    - 2
    Unregistered 2012-02-25 02:19:53
    This song has a great meaning on us pilipino, based on what I've heard about what happen during the time of ninoy aquino and his arrival everyone tie a yellow ribbon on the trees, wear yellow shirt and listening to this song as a sign of support to ninoy aquino. Then when the plane arrived and he was about to witness the support of the his fellow pilipino on him he was shot by gun, he died on the spot. Then that is the start of edsa revolution lead by cory aquino which was his wife who stand for every pilipino to achieve the democracy against the present government. Looking back at the time of victory of every pilipino who fought for every pilipino last february 25, 1986. I am proud to be a pilipino.
    Add your reply
  • U
    - 3
    Unregistered 2012-01-04 11:39:34
    It means that a guy has done something bad or he hurt the one he loves and the relationship was on the rocks for 3 years. Being in prison or beeing free does not necessarily be interpreted literally. So after 3 years, the guy realizes that he has to do a brave move to win back the one he loves without the assurance that he will succeed. Lucky for him he did. Succeed I mean.
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    • U
      + 14
      Unregistered
      This song is about a guy who just came out of 3 long years in prison and was looking for his former... Read more →
    • U
      + 6
      Unregistered
      Actually, it is about a man freed from prison. There was a videoshort that originally accompanied... Read more →
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    [Intro][Verse][Pre-Chorus][Chorus][Hook][Bridge][Outro]