The Yellow Bandana
Faron Young Lyrics


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This is the story of the Yellow Bandana,
A handsome young soldier, and the girl named Rosana.

Oh, way down west, in the winds on New Mexico.
There lived a girl and the soldier who loved her so,
And every night 'neath the full crimson moon above,
This brave young soldier, would pledge her his love.
[Chorus]
And he gave Rosana his yellow bandana,
To wear in her hair, till he's with her once more.
He gave Rosana his yellow bandana,
Mounted his pony, and rode off to war.

His orders came, and he had to ride west again;
Seems that Apaches were causing unrest again.
He kissed Rosana goodbye as he rode away,
Promising this time he'd come back to stay.

[Chorus]

That war was over, and he came back home and found
That the Apaches had burned the whole village down.
And 'neath the tree where he'd last kissed Rosana,
Gripped on the cross, was his yellow bandana.

[Chorus]

He gave Rosana his yellow bandana,
To wear in her hair, till he's with her once more.





He gave Rosana his yellow bandana,
Mounted his pony, and rode off to war...

Overall Meaning

"The Yellow Bandana" is a ballad about the love between a young soldier and a girl named Rosana in the western United States during the Apache wars. The soldier gives her his yellow bandana as a symbol of his love and promise to come back to her. However, he is called to go back to the front lines as unrest brews again. Despite the danger, he promises Rosana that he will come back to stay with her after the war. Unfortunately, when he returns, he finds that the Apaches have burned down the whole village. He discovers the bandana he gave to Rosana gripped beneath a tree where they last kissed. It is a symbol of a love forever lost.


The song is a powerful example of the human cost of war and the impact it can have on individuals and communities. It also explores the themes of love, loss, and hope. The yellow bandana symbolizes the soldier's love, commitment, and sacrifice.


Line by Line Meaning

This is the story of the Yellow Bandana,
Introduction to the tale of a yellow bandana and the couple, Rosana and her soldier lover.


A handsome young soldier, and the girl named Rosana.
Describing the individuals in the story, a good-looking soldier and his beloved, Rosana.


Oh, way down west, in the winds on New Mexico.
Setting the location of the story in the western region of New Mexico that's prone to winds.


There lived a girl and the soldier who loved her so,
Introducing the love between Rosana and the soldier that was living in New Mexico.


And every night 'neath the full crimson moon above,
Describing the nightly ritual of the soldier professing his love to Rosana, under the full crimson moon's light.


This brave young soldier, would pledge her his love.
Highlighting the soldier's bravery and loyalty in expressing his love to Rosana.


[Chorus]
The recurring theme of the soldier giving his yellow bandana to Rosana before he goes to war, with her wearing it till his return.


And he gave Rosana his yellow bandana,
Depicting the soldier's gesture of affection for Rosana by bestowing his yellow bandana to her.


To wear in her hair, till he's with her once more.
Emphasizing that Rosana will keep the yellow bandana until the soldier returns from war.


He gave Rosana his yellow bandana,
Repeating the previous statement to reinforce the significance of the yellow bandana.


Mounted his pony, and rode off to war.
Depicting the soldier leaving for war on his pony once he gave the yellow bandana to Rosana.


His orders came, and he had to ride west again;
Illustrating that the soldier received his orders to fight again, and he leaves to the west as a result.


Seems that Apaches were causing unrest again.
Explaining that the soldiers were called out to fight the Apaches that were causing disruption.


He kissed Rosana goodbye as he rode away,
Narrating the sad farewell between the soldier and Rosana as he left for war again.


Promising this time he'd come back to stay.
The soldier's vow to Rosana that he would return from the war to be with her again.


[Chorus]
The repetition of the chorus signifying the importance of the yellow bandana in the tale.


That war was over, and he came back home and found
Depicting the end of the war and the soldier's return home to find something had happened to Rosana and the village.


That the Apaches had burned the whole village down.
Revealing that the Apaches had burned down the village by the time the soldier returned home.


And 'neath the tree where he'd last kissed Rosana,
Depicting the tree where the soldier and Rosana had last embraced, now the site of the soldier's tragic discovery.


Gripped on the cross, was his yellow bandana.
Unveiling the sorrowful sight of the yellow bandana wrapped around a cross.


[Chorus]
Concluding the repetition of the chorus as the story ends, the yellow bandana remaining a testament to the love of the soldier and Rosana.


He gave Rosana his yellow bandana,
Repeating the line from the chorus to build on the theme of the yellow bandana's significance to the story.


To wear in her hair, till he's with her once more.
Reiterating that Rosana would keep the yellow bandana until the soldier comes back.


He gave Rosana his yellow bandana,
Emphasizing the importance of the yellow bandana to the story once again.


Mounted his pony, and rode off to war...
Concluding the storytelling by repeating the image of the soldier mounting his pony and departing for war after giving Rosana his yellow bandana.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: AL GORGONI, LARRY KOLBER, STEVE KARLISKI

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

@ABI-os6xp

This is the story of the Yellow Bandana,
A handsome young soldier, and the girl named Rosana.

Oh, way down west, in the winds on New Mexico.
There lived a girl and the soldier who loved her so,
And every night 'neath the full crimson moon above,
This brave young soldier, would pledge her his love.

And he gave Rosana his yellow bandana,
To wear in her hair, till he's with her once more.
He gave Rosana his yellow bandana,
Mounted his pony, and rode off to war.

His orders came, and he had to ride west again;
Seems that Apaches were causing unrest again.
He kissed Rosana goodbye as he rode away,
Promising this time he'd come back to stay.

And he gave Rosana his yellow bandana,
To wear in her hair, till he's with her once more.
He gave Rosana his yellow bandana,
Mounted his pony, and rode off to war.

That war was over, and he came back home and found
That the Apaches had burned the whole village down.
And 'neath the tree where he'd last kissed Rosana,
Gripped on the cross, was his yellow bandana.

He gave Rosana his yellow bandana,
To wear in her hair, till he's with her once more.
He gave Rosana his yellow bandana,
Mounted his pony, and rode off to war...



All comments from YouTube:

@francistorchio

Wonderful song. First heard it in the fall of 1962 as a freshman in high school. Reminds me of Marty Robbins 'El Paso'.

@jesseblack2285

Must have been a great time to grow up

@jacobthemaster66

@@jesseblack2285 It really wasnt..

@jesseblack2285

@@jacobthemaster66 to each their own

@marthaheadley9425

Love that voice no matter what he sings

@ryanevasco5693

Few better. Faron had a famous voice

@brian5128

He could sing the phone book and itd be good!!

@maihumamai4383

Best romantic songs by faron young including hello walls. Classic country songs never to be forgotten.

@aryaindrayana7814

i'm from so far away country.. first listened to yhis song under 90s when i was in high school.. thank god i thought i had lost all these songs..

@ginnybagwell1580

Great singer! Wish he knew how much he was loved.

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