Introduction
George Strait’s “Check Yes or No,” written by Nashville songwriters Dana Hunt Black and Danny Wells, was released on September 18, 1995 as the lead single from his comprehensive box set Strait Out of the Box . Black had conceived the idea earlier and shared the chorus during a songwriting session with Wells, leading to their first major artist recording and chart-topping success .
Recorded at Emerald Sound Studios in Nashville on April 10, 1995, the song struck an immediate chord with Strait. He famously played it during a car ride to school to cheer up his grumpy son, Bubba—and that joyful reaction confirmed it was “a good one” .
Capturing the innocence of early crushes, the song narrates the story of childhood sweethearts who pass flirtatious notes in third grade, asking “check yes or no” to determine mutual affection. As adults, the couple remains deeply in love, proving the enduring magic of young romance . With its upbeat melody and heartfelt storytelling, “Check Yes or No” became one of Strait’s most beloved singles, earning a four-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart from November 11 to December 2, 1995 .
The song received critical acclaim, with reviewers praising Strait’s delivery as warm and charming, perfectly suited for country radio . It garnered the CMA and ACM Single of the Year awards in 1996 , and remains a radio staple, maintaining its status as a timeless country classic.
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