Aboput the song
“Check Yes or No” is a beloved country song by George Strait, released in September 1995. This track was the lead single from his box set *Strait Out of the Box*. The song quickly climbed to the top of the charts, reaching number one on both the U.S. Billboard Country chart and the Canadian RPM Country chart. It was also featured as a bonus track on the 1996 UK version of Strait’s *Blue Clear Sky* album.
The song, written by Danny Wells and Dana Hunt Black, captures a nostalgic and heartwarming story. It begins with a tale of two schoolchildren who fall in love through innocent notes and playground flirtations. As the song progresses, it beautifully transitions to the present day, celebrating the couple’s enduring love after twenty years of marriage.
Danny Wells and Dana Hunt Black, Nashville songwriters, penned this memorable tune. Black, who had the chorus in mind a year before moving to Nashville, shared it with Wells during a songwriting session at ASCAP. Together, they crafted a song that George Strait instantly loved. Strait’s early enthusiasm for the track was so strong that he knew right away he wanted to record it. The song was recorded in April 1995 at Emerald Sound Studios in Nashville.
Critics and fans alike have praised “Check Yes or No.” Deborah Evans Price of *Billboard* highlighted the song’s warmth and charm, noting its appeal on country radio. In 2017, *The New Yorker* described it as a “good-natured radio perennial.” The song has won significant accolades, including CMA and ACM awards for Single of the Year, and remains a favorite on country radio even in the streaming era.
“Check Yes or No” has inspired several covers by artists such as Kane Brown and Scotty McCreery. Notably, McCreery performed it during the finale of *American Idol* at Strait’s request. The song’s enduring legacy is also acknowledged by Florida Georgia Line, who reference it in their album *Dig Your Roots*.
Video
Lyrics
It started way back in third grade
I used to sit beside Emmylou Hayes
A pink dress, a matching bow in her ponytail
She kissed me on the school bus but told me not to tell
Next day I chased her ’round 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 wanna 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
Ain’t much 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 wanna 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”
“Do you love me? Do you wanna 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”
Check yes or no
Check yes or no
Check yes or no
Check yes or no