Check Yes Or No【韵声音乐坊】
George Strait [乔治史崔特] Lyrics

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It started way back in third grade
I used to sit beside Emmylou Hayes
A pink dress, a matching bow, and her ponytail
She kissed me on the school bus but told me not to tell
Next day I chased her around the playground
Cross the monkey bars to the merry-go-round
And Emmylou got caught passing me a note
Before the teacher took it I read what she wrote

Do you love me do you want to be my friend
And if you do
Well then don't be afraid to take me by the hand
If you want to
I think this is how love goes
Check yes or no

Now we're grown up and she's my wife
Still like two kids with stars in our eyes
Not much has changed I still chase Emmylou
Up and down the hall around the bed in our room
Last night I took her out in a white limousine
Twenty years together she still gets to me
Can't believe it's been that long ago
When we got started with just a little note

Do you love me do you want to be my friend
And if you do
Well then don't be afraid to take me by the hand
If you want to

I think this is how love goes
Check yes or no

Overall Meaning

"Check Yes or No" is a song about a childhood crush and how it led to a long-lasting love. The singer of the song reminisces about his days in third grade, when he used to sit beside Emmylou Hayes, a girl he had a crush on. She kissed him once on the school bus and passed him a note asking if he loved her and if he wanted to be her friend. The boy read the note and replied by checking "yes," and from there, their relationship began. They spent their childhood chasing each other around the playground and grew up to become married adults who still chase each other around the house.

The song is a nostalgic ode to young love, capturing the innocence and joy of those fleeting moments that can shape the rest of one's life. As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the couple's love has not diminished even after twenty years of marriage, as they still chase each other around and surprise each other with romantic gestures. The song's message is clear: love is a journey that begins with a simple "yes" or "no."

Line by Line Meaning

It started way back in third grade
This is where the love story of the singer and Emmylou started - in their third-grade class.

I used to sit beside Emmylou Hayes
The singer was in close proximity to Emmylou during their school years.

A pink dress, a matching bow, and her ponytail
This line describes Emmylou's appearance, highlighting how the singer remembers specific details about her even after all these years.

She kissed me on the school bus but told me not to tell
Emmylou shared a secret moment with the artist, but she wanted to keep it a secret so as to not get teased by other classmates.

Next day I chased her around the playground
The artist was excited about the kiss and wanted to pursue Emmylou's affections further.

Cross the monkey bars to the merry-go-round
The singer was willing to take on challenges to get to Emmylou.

And Emmylou got caught passing me a note
Emmylou was finding ways to communicate with the singer unbeknownst to their teacher.

Before the teacher took it I read what she wrote
The artist intercepted the note before it was confiscated by their teacher, allowing him to read what Emmylou had to say without getting caught.

Do you love me do you want to be my friend
This is the question that Emmylou asked the artist, expressing her feelings towards him.

And if you do
This line sets up the next part of Emmylou's question, which is conditional.

Well then don't be afraid to take me by the hand
Emmylou is encouraging the singer to take action on his feelings towards her, despite any fear he may have about rejection or social barriers.

If you want to
Again, this is a conditional phrase which allows the artist to express his desire for Emmylou in his own way.

I think this is how love goes
The singer has come to the conclusion that this feeling he has for Emmylou is what love is supposed to feel like.

Check yes or no
This is Emmylou's request for a simple response from the singer, either affirming or denying mutual feelings between them.

Now we're grown up and she's my wife
This line fast forwards to the present, revealing that the singer and Emmylou still have a connection after all these years.

Still like two kids with stars in our eyes
Their love for each other has endured and persisted, maintaining a sense of youthful passion.

Not much has changed I still chase Emmylou
Even after marriage, the artist still pursues Emmylou and seeks to woo her.

Up and down the hall around the bed in our room
The singer shows physical affection towards his wife and is not afraid to express his love in private.

Last night I took her out in a white limousine
The singer is still finding romantic gestures to show Emmylou how much he loves her after all these years.

Twenty years together she still gets to me
The relationship has stood the test of time, and the artist still feels strongly about his wife.

Can't believe it's been that long ago
The artist is reflecting on the time that has passed since he first fell in love with Emmylou and is filled with disbelief that they have come so far together.

Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

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