I peeped in to say goodnight And then I heard my child in prayer Hand for me some scarlet ribbons Scarlet ribbons for my hair All the stores were locked and shuttered All the streets were dark and bare In our town no scarlet ribbons No scarlet ribbons for her hair Through the night my heart was aching Just before the dawn was breaking I peeped in and on her bed In gay profusion lying there Scarlet ribbons, scarlet ribbons Pretty scarlet ribbons for her hair If I lived to be a hundred I will never know from where Came those lovely scarlet ribbons Scarlet ribbons for her hair