“Scarlet Ribbons“
The folk style ballad, “Scarlet Ribbons” was written in just 15 minutes in 1949 in Port Washington, New York, with lyrics by the late Minnasota native Jack Segal and music by the late Texas native Evelyn Danzig Levine.
There have been many recorded versions on several recorded Christmas albums, but none better than that by the great American singer, Grammy Award winner, activist, actor and current 95-year-old Mr Harry Belafonte, (born Harold George Bellanfanti Jr).
I peeped in to say goodnight,
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 peeped in and on her bed,
In gay profusion, lying there,
Lovely ribbons, scarlet ribbons,
Scarlet ribbons for her hair.
If I live to be a 100,
I will never know from where,
Came those lovely scarlet ribbons,
Scarlet ribbons for her hair.
END
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