Created in 1969 by songwriter and record producer Tony Hiller, Brotherhood of Man was initially an umbrella title for a frequently-changing line-up of session singers. Early on, they scored a worldwide hit with the song "United We Stand". By 1973 the concept had run its course and Hiller formed a definite four-member line-up consisting of Martin Lee, Lee Sheriden, Nicky Stevens and Sandra Stevens. This version of the group went on to score many hits around the world in the mid to late 1970s including "Kiss Me Kiss Your Baby", "Angelo", "Oh Boy (The Mood I'm In)" and "Figaro". They achieved perhaps their biggest success in their native UK with three number one singles and four top twenty albums. The group under this line-up still continues, performing shows throughout Europe. Altogether, they have released 16 studio albums, with worldwide sales topping 15 million records.
After winning Eurovision, they had a string of hits in the UK, but long-term, continued success, proved to be elusive. Nevertheless, the triple chart topping UK vocal group, formed by record producer / composer, Tony Hiller, and which originally featured the well-travelled vocalist, Tony Burrows, broke the voting record for Eurovision, and sold well over 1 million copies of "Save Your Kisses For Me". Speaking with Songfacts about their #1 hit "Angelo" in a 2011 interview, Tony Hillier said: "Angelo, very simply, was based on perhaps the greatest love stories of all time, Romeo and Juliet. The beautiful young daughter of the richest man in the country and the handsome labourer working on the estate - they died for love."
"Save Your Kisses For Me" was nominated as one of final five finalists in the 50th anniversary Eurovision concert held in Copenhagen, Denmark, in October 2005.
Members
Nicky Stevens (born on 3 December 1951, in Carmarthen, Wales).
Sandra Stevens (23 November 1949, in Leeds, Yorkshire).
Martin Lee (26 November 1949, in Surrey).
Lee Sheriden (11 April 1949, in Bristol).
Tie A Yellow Ribbon
Brotherhood of Man Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now I've got to know what is and isn't mine
If you received my letter telling you I'd soon be free
Then you'll know just what to do
If you still want me
If you still want me
Whoa, tie a yellow ribbon 'round the ole oak tree
It's been three long years
If I don't see a ribbon 'round the ole oak tree
I'll stay on the bus
Forget about us
You can 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
Whoa, tie a yellow ribbon 'round the ole oak tree
It's been three long years
Do ya still want me (still want me)
If I don't see a ribbon 'round the ole oak tree
I'll stay on the bus
Forget about us
You can put the blame on me
If I don't see a yellow ribbon 'round the ole oak tree
Now the whole damned bus is cheerin'
And I can't believe I see
A hundred yellow ribbons 'round the ole oak tree
I'm comin' home, mmm, mmm
(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)
The lyrics of Brotherhood of Man's song "Tie A Yellow Ribbon" tell the story of a man who has just been released from prison and is travelling home on a bus. He is unsure whether his former lover still wants him, and he asks the bus driver to look for a yellow ribbon tied around an old oak tree, which would be a signal that she is willing to take him back. If he does not see the ribbon, he will stay on the bus and forget about their relationship. The man is anxious and hopeful, and his emotions are conveyed through the repetitive chorus of "tie a yellow ribbon 'round the ole oak tree."
The yellow ribbon symbolizes hope and forgiveness, and the man is relying on it to guide his return to a normal life. The lyrics capture the uncertainty and tension that exist in many relationships, especially those that have been strained by time or distance. The repetition of the chorus creates a sense of urgency and reinforces the importance of the ribbon as a signifier of the couple's future.
Overall, "Tie A Yellow Ribbon" is a powerful and emotional song that speaks to the longing for connection and the desire for redemption that are common to us all.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm comin' home, I've done my time
I am returning home after serving a prison sentence
Now I've got to know what is and isn't mine
I'm unsure if I still have a place in your life after being away for so long
If you received my letter telling you I'd soon be free
Then you'll know just what to do
I sent a letter to let you know I would be released from prison soon, and if you want me to come home, tie a yellow ribbon around the oak tree
If you still want me
If you still love me and want me in your life
Whoa, tie a yellow ribbon 'round the ole oak tree
It's been three long years
Do ya still want me (still want me)
Tying a yellow ribbon around the oak tree will signify that you still love me and want me to return home after being away for three years
If I don't see a ribbon 'round the ole oak tree
I'll stay on the bus
Forget about us
You can put the blame on me
If I don't see a yellow ribbon, I will assume you no longer want me and will accept responsibility for our relationship ending
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
I'm nervous about returning home and want the bus driver to let me know if a yellow ribbon has been tied around the tree, as my love holds the power to set me free from my emotional prison
A simple yellow ribbon's what I need to set me free
I wrote and told her please
All I need to be free and happy is to see a yellow ribbon tied around the tree, which I have asked my love to do
Now the whole damned bus is cheerin'
And I can't believe I see
A hundred yellow ribbons 'round the ole oak tree
To my surprise, the entire bus is cheering because there are now 100 yellow ribbons tied around the oak tree, indicating that my love and everyone else still wants me to come home
I'm comin' home, mmm, mmm
(Tie a ribbon 'round the ole oak tree)
Thanks to the yellow ribbons, I am finally coming back home, and I am grateful to my love and everyone who wanted me to return
Writer(s): Lawrence H Brown, Irwin Levine
Contributed by Michael S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.