About the song
In the ever-expanding catalog of modern country music, few artists have achieved the kind of quiet dominance and lasting influence that **George Strait** commands. Known affectionately as the “King of Country,” **Strait** has built a career not on flash or gimmicks, but on timeless storytelling, smooth vocals, and a deep connection to the traditional roots of the genre. His 1995 hit, **“Check Yes or No,”** is a shining example of why his music continues to resonate so deeply, especially with listeners who appreciate sincerity over spectacle.
Appearing on his *Strait Out of the Box* collection, **“Check Yes or No”** is a song that takes a simple idea—a childhood note passed in class—and spins it into a gentle, heartwarming reflection on lifelong love. What makes this track particularly special is its unpretentious charm. It doesn’t try to be profound, yet it captures something deeply universal: the enduring power of young love that grows and matures over time. There’s a nostalgic innocence in the lyrics—“Do you love me? Do you want to be my friend?”—that instantly transports the listener back to the tender, awkward beginnings of romance.
**Strait’s** voice, as always, is smooth and unforced, perfectly suited for a story that relies on emotional subtlety. He never oversells the sentiment, and in doing so, he allows the song’s warmth and genuineness to shine through. The production is clean and classic, with soft acoustic strumming, gentle steel guitar accents, and a steady rhythm that mirrors the reliability and steadiness of the love story being told.
For older, more seasoned listeners, **“Check Yes or No”** is more than just a catchy tune—it’s a reminder of how the simplest moments can become the most cherished memories. It evokes a sense of longing for a time when love was expressed in hand-written notes and quiet glances, before the noise and complications of adult life. And yet, it also affirms that true love, once kindled, can endure through the years, becoming stronger with time.
In a genre often filled with heartbreak and loss, **George Strait** offers something quietly radical with this song: a celebration of lasting love that began with the scribble of a child’s pen. **“Check Yes or No”** is country music at its most charming, and **Strait** at his most effortless—and that’s precisely what makes it unforgettable.
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
