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!