I peeped in to say good night
When I heard my child in prayer
"Send me, God, some scarlet ribbons
Scarlet ribbons for my hair"
All the stores were closed and shuttered
All the streets were dark and bare
In my 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
I saw a ribbon, scarlet ribbons
Scarlet ribbons for her hair
If I live to be a hundred
I will never know from where
Came those lovely scarlet ribbons
Scarlet ribbons for her hair
...It seems to me that the song is about the mother feeling like she isn't a good enough mother to her child...and like she feels bad and like she can't provide the child with everything it needs and wants and can't make it happy...and then a "miracle" happens in the morning when the ribbons appear on the child's pillow...it kinda reassures her that everything will be okay and that her child is happy??! ...I just kinda read over the lyrics and took a wild guess, but to me it seemed sorta self-explanatory...but, then again I could be totally wrong and it all just went way over my head, and I have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about! :) lol...I hope this helps?!