I peeked in to say goodnight
And I heard my child in prayer
And she prayed for scarlet ribbons
Lovely ribbons for her hair

All the stars were closed and shuttered
All the streets were dark and bare
In our town of scarlet ribbons
Not one ribbon for her hair

Through the night my heart was aching
Just before the dawn was breaking

On her bed in gay profusion
Lovely ribbons lying there
Lovely ribbons
Scarlet ribbons
Scarlet ribbons for her hair

If I live to be a hundred
I will never know from where
Came those ribbons
Lovely ribbons
Scarlet ribbons for her hair