to "Tie a Yellow Ribbon"

I have run across people disparaging the little yellow ribbon magnets that say "Support the Troops" I am sure they are from a different generation than I.  The little yellow magnets have a meaning for a lot of us from my generation.  I thought I would first post the lyrics to the song before I tried explaining the personal meaning to me and let the readers absorb the message in the lyrics and then from my personal experiences maybe they would understand.

(because of my personal experience I have a very hard time thinking that the date is right - matter of fact I KNOW it is in error in some way)

TIE A YELLOW RIBBON ROUND THE OLD OAK TREE - 21/04/1973
4 weeks at #1 - 40 weeks on chart

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 old 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 old 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 old 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 old 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 old 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 old oak tree

Now the whole damned bus is cheerin'
And I can't believe I see
A hundred yellow ribbons 'round the old oak tree

I'm comin' home, mmm, mmm

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

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

    I was in the US Navy stationed on board the USS White Plains.  We left San Francisco Bay in late October, 1971 and returned eight months later ( late June 1972) from an extended voyage to the South China Sea and the Vietnam War.  We had quite a cruise but I will not tell about the cruise now except for the fact that when we left we were scheduled to be back by April.  I was single but we had many married sailors aboard.  We entered San Fransisco Bay sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge and were met by two fire boats. The fire boats fell in astern, one to port and one to starboard.  They used their pumps to create a gigantic spray behind them so that all who gazed upon the bay knew we were an American Navy Warship coming home from the war.  We sailed past Alcrataz and Treasure Island and under the Oakland/Bay Bridge on our journey to Alameda Naval Air Station where we were to dock.  The fireboats following us all the way.  The tug came out to meet us as we turned to approach our dock.  We sailors were  in formation  in our Dress Whites and had been since entering San Fransisco Bay.  As we approached the pier we could see it was very crowded with those that loved us welcoming us home.  The center of the pier contained two huge poles that had a sign "Welcome Home USS White Plains" stretched between them and the poles were virtually covered with yellow ribbons and bows.  The joy and jubilation was contagious and there wsasn't a dry eye to be found as the order was  given to 'Man the Rails'.  All hands crowded the pier side rail to see if their loved ones were there.  What a joyous day for all.

    Now, if you will remember I said that I was suspect about the date listed beside the song title and that is because we had a "Yellow Ribbon" welcome in 1972 and we were familiar with the song and what the yellow ribbons stood for.  Maybe someone else can shed some light on this apparent discrepancy because I KNOW my dates are correct.

 For those of you who think it is a 'phony' way of stating your patriotism or support of the troops I say 'Humbug'.  There may be a few who have the magnets on their cars only because they think it is cool but I do not believe so.  They are the Veterans, Moms, Sisters, Brothers, Dads, Sons, Daughters, Wives and Widows of American veterans or service members who do not want or will not tolerate the the abuse of those service members now returning from the current war in Afghanistan or Iraq that those who returned from Vietnam experienced once they left the safety of the military base they were on.  These good folks that proudly display those little yellow ribbon magnets are trying to convey to the troops that they do care and do love and thank them for what they are doing.  Displaying the little yellow ribbon magnets is the only way some of them know how.

Cheerily
IJK

Comments (5) Permalink August 3, 2007