On this date in 1973, the musical group, Tony Orlando and Dawn, had a number one hit with their song: “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree”.
The yellow ribbon has long been a symbol of support for absent or missing loved ones. There are some who believe that the tradition of the yellow ribbon dates back as far as the Civil War era, when a yellow ribbon worn in a woman’s hair indicated that she was “taken” by a man who was absent due to service in the United States Army Cavalry.
That may be urban legend.
“Tie a Yellow Ribbon” was a massive international hit, holding a number one spot on the U.S. and the U.K. charts for four consecutive weeks. It earned more than three million radio plays in 1973.
The song was sung from the perspective of a man returning home after three years in prison. He was looking anxiously for the agreed-upon sign that the woman he loves would welcome his return.
In January of 1981, the Library of Congress was inundated by press inquiries about the historical roots of the yellow ribbon. What prompted this abundance of interest was the spontaneous appearance all around the country of yellow ribbons welcoming home the U.S. hostages after 444 days in captivity in Iran.
The library’s research team scrambled around for historical evidence but came up with only myth and folklore. Eventually, the Library of Congress ruled that the most compelling evidence explaining the yellow ribbons was the inspiration of Tony Orlando’s song.
If you are familiar with the song, you know the last few lines:
Now the whole damn bus is cheerin’
And I can’t believe I see…
A hundred yellow ribbons
Round the old oak tree
I was 15 years old when that song was a number one hit. I knew nothing of war or prison or any of those things. I knew only of dreams of a life of love. I knew that if I ever wanted to welcome home my love from a long absence, I would surely find a beautiful yellow ribbon and tie it around an oak tree.
I am now 60 years old. I have a love and I have an oak tree. Thankfully, he doesn’t go away for long absences.
Perhaps on Monday evening when he pulls in the driveway after a long day of ‘doctoring’, I will welcome him home with a yellow ribbon tied around the old oak tree.
Or hey, maybe a hundred.