Belafonte is perhaps best known for singing the "Banana Boat Song", with its signature lyric "Day-O". Throughout his career, he was an advocate for civil rights and humanitarian causes.
Belafonte won three Grammy Awards (including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award), an Emmy Award, and a Tony Award. In 1989, he received the Kennedy Center Honors. He was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1994. In 2014, he received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the Academy's 6th Annual Governors Awards and in 2022 was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the Early Influence category and was the oldest living person to have received the honor.
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Scarlet Ribbons
Harry Belafonte Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When 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
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
If I live to be a hundred
I will never know from where
Came those lovely scarlet ribbons
Scarlet ribbons for her hair
Harry Belafonte's song Scarlet Ribbons tells the story of a father who hears his child praying for some scarlet ribbons for her hair. He goes out to buy her some, but finds that all the stores are closed and there are no ribbons to be found. The father struggles with the realization that he cannot fulfill his child's wish, and spends the night heartbroken. In the morning, he finds his child's bed covered in beautiful scarlet ribbons, but he doesn't know where they came from.
The song is a poignant portrayal of a parent's love and desire to fulfill their child's wishes, and the mysterious appearance of the scarlet ribbons suggests that there are powers beyond our understanding that are watching over us. The song captures the beautiful and complex emotions of parenthood and the love that binds families together.
Overall, Scarlet Ribbons is a touching and memorable song that has resonated with audiences for generations.
Line by Line Meaning
I peeked in to say goodnight
I checked on my child before going to sleep
When I heard my child in prayer
I overheard my child saying her prayers
And for me some scarlet ribbons
She requested scarlet ribbons for me
Scarlet ribbons for my hair
To be worn in my hair
All the stores were closed and shuttered
All stores were already closed
All the streets were dark and bare
The streets were empty and dark
In our town, no scarlet ribbons
There were no scarlet ribbons in town
Not one ribbon for her hair
None available for her
Through the night my heart was aching
I was restless all night
And just before the dawn was breaking
Just before sunrise
I peeked in and on her bed
I checked on her in her bed
In gay profusion lying there
The room was noticeably bright and colorful
Lovely ribbons, scarlet ribbons
Scarlet ribbons were present
Scarlet ribbons for her hair
They were meant for her hair
If I live to be a hundred
No matter how long I live
I will never know from where
I will never know the source
Came those lovely scarlet ribbons
How those ribbons appeared
Scarlet ribbons for her hair
The ribbons were for her hair
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: EVELYN DANZIG, JACK SEGAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mags O'Reilly
My dear Dad who is now passed used to sing this to me every night at bed time. Such happy memories
Annie
Mines to x
Heather Wilkinson
Mine too
Joanne Skerman
Sad to think one day this song will make cry cause it will be just be a memory xxx
Beth B
Mine, too..... we used to sing and play guitar together....
Pauline Bullen
My mother would sing this song to me all the time l had it played her funeral it worked so well people asking who it was thank you Harry Belafonte xx
Carol Mulkern
What perfect enunciation of words, , what tenderness and softness he brings to this song - he is sublime......
Brian Harbut
❤️
Wes Wesley
My daddy sang this song to me a few times when I was a girl. I never forgot it.
Gerri D. Klein
Love it, because it is a beautiful song, sung by a most talented individual and also the music was composed by my aunt Evelyn Danzig in about 1950.