I peeked in to say goodnight and I heard my child in prayer
"Please bring me some scarlet ribbons, scarlet ribbons for my hair."

All the shops were closed and shuttered, all the streets were dark and bare
In our town no scarlet ribbons, scarlet ribbons for her hair

Through the night, my heart was achin', just before the dawn was breaking

I looked in and on her bed in gay profusion lying there, scarlet ribbons, lovely 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