I peeked in to say goodnight,

And then I heard my child in prayer:

"And for me some scarlet ribbons,

Scarlet ribbons for my hair . . ."



All the stores were closed and shuttered,

All the streets were dark and bare . . .

In our town, no scarlet ribbons,

Not one ribbon for her hair . . .



Through the night my heart was aching,

Just before the dawn was breaking,

I peeked in and on her bed,

In gay profusion lying there,

Lovely ribbons, scarlet ribbons,

Scarlet ribbons for her hair . . .



If I live to be two hundred,

I will never know from where,

Came those lovely scarlet ribbons,

Scarlet ribbons, for her hair!