Thios is from Songs from the Front and Read: Canadian Servicemen's Songs of the Second World War (Anthony Hopkins, 1979)

The yellow ribbon, or variations of it, has been around girls' necks since the post-Civil War days when this was a US cavalryman's song. In polite versions, the absence of her soldier-lover causes only longing. In this version, called "The Airman's Girl Friend" in a song sheet from Newfoundland containing the lyrics, she has more than fond memories of ecstatic nights to remind her of the joys and perils of wartime romance. There is a baby, but there is no longer a father—perhaps. Smokey Joe was often the nickname of any dark-complexioned man, but in any case, it's somebody else's child.

The alternate verse is from an RCAF Women's Division version of the song that is, in most respects, very similar to the first five verses of the song as printed here. As with other songs, women are different
from men—more practical, more hopeful, and, in their own opinion, more honest.


She Wore a Yellow Ribbon

1. Around her neck she wore a silver locket,
She wore it in the springtime, and in the month of May.
And if you asked her why the hell she wore it,
She wore it for an airman who was far, far away.

CHORUS
Far away (far away), far away (far away),
She wore it for an airman who was far, far away.

2. Around her leg she wore a purple garter,
She wore it in the springtime, and in the month of May.
And if you asked her why the hell she wore it,
She wore it for an airman who was far, far away.

CHORUS

3. Around her waist she wore a dirty girdle,
She wore it in the springtime, and in the month of May.
And if you asked her why the hell she wore it,
She wore it for an airman who was far, far away.

CHORUS

4. Around the park she pushed a baby carriage,
She pushed it in the springtime, and in the month of May.
And if you asked her why the hell she pushed it,
She pushed if for an airman who was far, far away.

5. Behind the door her father kept a shot-gun,
He kept it in the springtime, and in the month of May.
And if you asked him why the hell he kept it,
He kept it for an airman who was far, far away.

6. Upon a grave she placed a bunch of posies,
She placed them in the springtime, and in the month of May.
And if you asked her why the hell she placed them,
She placed them for an airman who was six feet down.

CHORUS

Six feet down (six feet down), six feet down (six feet down),
She placed them for an airman who was six feet down.

7. Our story told, the airman was a sucker,
We tell it when we're dead broke, and when we're in the dough,
For if you looked into the baby carriage,
Now who the hell was in there, but little Smokey Joe.

CHORUS

Smokey Joe (Smokey Joe), Smokey Joe (Smokey Joe),
Now who the hell was in there, but little Smokey Joe.

ALTERNATE VERSE

And on the wall she keeps a marriage license,
She keeps it in the springtime, and in the month of May,
And if you ask her why the heck she keeps it,
She keeps it for her lover who is far, far, away.