You know I peeked in to say goodnight
When I heard my child in prayer
She said, "And for me some scarlet ribbons
Scarlet ribbons for my hair"

All the stores were closed and shuttered
And all the streets were dark and bare
And in our town no scarlet ribbons
Not one ribbon for her hair

And through the night my heart was aching
And 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

Ooh, tragic
Now one more man believes in magic

And if I live to be a hundred
Well, I will never, never know from where
Came those lovely scarlet ribbons
Scarlet ribbons for her hair

Scarlet ribbons
There's magic in the air
Scarlet, scarlet ribbons for her hair