I peeked in to say goodnight
And I heard my child in prayer
And for me some scarlet ribbons
Scarlet ribbons for her 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, laying 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 lovely scarlet ribbons
Scarlet ribbons for her hair...