[1] The idea of the song came to Forest Hairston after seeing pictures of people tying yellow ribbons around trees for Vietnam War troops who were POWs.
Gaye stopped him mid-track and began to collaborate, adding in melody and harmony parts.
Later, Gaye would continue working on it at the Motown Recording Studios' Hitsville West in Los Angeles.
The song was to be part of a Christmas-themed album by Gaye, was issued the Tamla number T-323L and scheduled for release in late 1972.
Ever since 1990, especially during the Iraq War, Gaye's song has become a staple on play lists for R&B radio stations during the Christmas season.