Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree
Dawn Lyrics


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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 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, do you 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
And I wrote and told her please

Whoa, tie a yellow ribbon 'round the ole oak tree
It's been three long years, do you 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 damned bus is cheerin'
And I can't believe I see

A hundred yellow ribbons round the ole oak tree
I'm comin' home

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

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Dawn's song "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" tell the story of a man who has been away from his loved one for three years, and is coming home. He's anxious about whether or not she still wants him, and he asks her to tie a yellow ribbon around an old oak tree if she does. If he doesn't see the ribbon, he'll know she doesn't want him and he'll stay on the bus.


The lyrics are powerful because they evoke the fears and anxieties that people feel when they're away from the ones they love. The man has been away for a long time, and he's worried that his loved one has moved on. He's asking her for a sign of her commitment, and the yellow ribbon becomes a symbol of their relationship.


The yellow ribbon also became a symbol for the American hostages who were held in Iran in 1979, and the song became a popular way for people to express their support for the hostages and their families. The song is a powerful reminder of the importance of love and commitment, even when we're separated from the ones we care about.


Line by Line Meaning

I'm comin' home, I've done my time
I have finished serving my sentence, and I am returning home.


Now I've got to know what is and isn't mine
I need to find out what belongs to me and what doesn't after being away for so long.


If you received my letter telling you I'd soon be free
If you have received the letter I sent you, informing you that I would be released soon.


Then you'll know just what to do / If you still want me, if you still want me
You will know what actions to take if you still want me and our relationship to continue.


Whoa, tie a yellow ribbon 'round the ole oak tree / It's been three long years, do you still want me?
If you want me to come home, tie a yellow ribbon around the old oak tree. It has been three years, and I am unsure if you 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
If there is no yellow ribbon tied to the oak tree, I will assume that you do not want me and will continue on the bus. I will blame myself for our separation.


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 / And I wrote and told her please
Bus driver, please keep an eye out for me. I am afraid of what I might see if there is no ribbon. My lover is my only hope for freedom from my emotional prison. All I need is a yellow ribbon, and I have requested it in my letter.


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
Now, the whole bus is cheering, and I can hardly believe my eyes - there are a hundred yellow ribbons around the old oak tree. I know I am coming home.


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
Please tie a yellow ribbon around the old oak tree, as I am on my way home.




Lyrics © Spirit Music Group, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Irwin Levine, Russell Brown

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@Shimfeli

The full 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 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, do you 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, 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 you 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, put the blame on me
If I don't see a yellow ribbon 'round the ole oak tree

Now the whole damn bus is cheerin' and I can't believe I see
A hundred yellow ribbons 'round the ole oak tree
I'm comin' home, umm-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)

(Tie a ribbon 'round the ole oak tree)
(Tie a ribbon 'round the ole oak tree)



@DamienMcGuinness

[Verse 1]
I'm coming home, I've done my time
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

[Chorus]
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
Put the blame on me
If I don't see a yellow ribbon 'round the ole oak tree

[Verse 2]
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

[Chorus]
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
Put the blame on me
If I don't see a yellow ribbon 'round the ole oak tree

[Instrumental Interlude]

[Bridge]
Now the whole damned bus is cheering
And I can't believe I see
A hundred yellow ribbons 'round the ole oak tree
I'm coming home, mmm, mmm

[Outro]
(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)

(Tie a ribbon 'round the ole oak tree)
(Tie a ribbon 'round the ole oak tree)
(Tie a ribbon 'round the ole oak tree)



All comments from YouTube:

@makeadifference4all

This was the biggest hit of 1973 and one of the biggest of all time. (In 2018, Billboard ranked it the 46th biggest hit ever.) The instrumentation was retro upon its release, and within ten years, the track sounded corny and dated, an item of ironic nostalgia. Yet, 50 years later, there's no denying this unforgettable ditty's sweet charm.

@barbarahaberman349

But remember it had a revival during the Iran hostage crisis in 1980.

@ronniedamnitz9295

William this is a timeless record indeed!

@sundarmann6167

Rightly said!

@Ston247

I was 10 at the time. 1973 had some of the gentlest music of that era. This song came out before the death of Bruce Lee and before the oil embargo.

@Cavedweller71

Whenever I hear it reminds me of childhood in 70s and simple fun times! 😞

38 More Replies...

@iosefoyagomate5647

I danced to this song back in 1973. I was only 11 back then and am still dancing in 2021. I am 58 years now and am loving it so much more....I wish I could live forever.

@ronniedamnitz9295

God bless. I hope you do!

@SawneyBean666

You will live forever. There is no peace. We just have to hope we don’t come back as a prey animal always on the lookout for that creature that is going to eat us 🤣 I believe in reincarnation but it has nothing to do with a soul jumping out and entering a new body. I just think something comes alive and experiences that life like you are yours at the moment. You was nothing before but you was if you can get your head around that. Like I said there is no peace and something will get born somewhere in the universe and will live. Think about it as it is a mind bender.

@Tianastreasuretrove

Cool, I wish I was born back then, don't like today's music it sucks. 😕 ☹

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