She was the first American singer to record at Abbey Road Studios in England. Her fan base even included Asia and the Philippines. She had 7 top hits, including "Why Don't You Believe in Me?", "Your Cheating Heart," "Almost Always," and "Have You Heard?"
She married composer Tony Acquaviva in 1956. In 1964, she dropped out of the public eye to take care of him and did so until 1986, when Mr. Acquaviva passed away. She began to tour again in the 1990's. She was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Scarlet Ribbons
Joni James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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.
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, 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.
The lyrics of Joni James's song "Scarlet Ribbons" tell a heartwarming story of a parent's love and the mysterious appearance of scarlet ribbons for their child's hair. The singer describes peeking in to say goodnight to their child and overhearing the child praying for scarlet ribbons for her hair. Despite the stores being closed and the streets dark, there are no scarlet ribbons available in their town, leaving the parent feeling helpless in fulfilling their child's wish.
As the night progresses, the parent's heartache grows as they cannot find any scarlet ribbons for their child. However, just before dawn breaks, the parent discovers a beautiful sight on the child's bed - an abundance of scarlet ribbons, magically appearing out of nowhere. The imagery of the ribbons symbolizes the love and care that the parent has for their child, surpassing any obstacles or limitations in acquiring them.
The lyrics convey a sense of wonder and gratitude as the parent marvels at the miraculous appearance of the scarlet ribbons. The parent expresses their amazement, stating that even if they live to be a hundred years old, they will never understand where the ribbons came from. This mysterious and magical element adds depth to the story, highlighting the unconditional love and devotion that the parent has for their child.
The repeated mention of the scarlet ribbons and the phrase "there's magic in the air" evoke a sense of enchantment and wonder. The scarlet ribbons symbolize love, hope, and the fulfillment of a heartfelt wish. Overall, the lyrics of "Scarlet Ribbons" beautifully capture the tender relationship between a parent and child, portraying a touching tale of love, faith, and the inexplicable beauty of life's small miracles.
Line by Line Meaning
You know I peeked in to say goodnight,
I checked in on my child before she went to bed
When I heard my child in prayer.
I heard her praying
She said, 'And for me some scarlet ribbons, Scarlet ribbons for my hair.'
She asked for scarlet ribbons for her hair
All the stores were closed and shuttered, And all the streets were dark and bare.
All the shops were closed and there were no people outside
In our town, no scarlet ribbons, Not one ribbon for her hair.
There were no scarlet ribbons available in our town
Through the night my heart was aching.
I felt a deep sorrow all night
And just before the dawn was breaking,
Right before the sunrise
I peeked in and on her bed,
I looked in on her while she was sleeping
In gay profusion lying there, Lovely ribbons, scarlet ribbons.
There were beautiful scarlet ribbons on her bed
Scarlet ribbons for her hair.
The scarlet ribbons were for her hair
If I live to be a hundred,
Even if I live a long life
I will never, never know from where,
I will never find out where
Came those lovely scarlet ribbons, Scarlet Ribbons for her hair.
The origins of the scarlet ribbons will always be a mystery
Scarlet ribbons, there's magic in the air.
The scarlet ribbons brought a magical feeling
Scarlet, scarlet ribbons for her hair.
The scarlet ribbons were specifically for her hair
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Evelyn Danzig, Jack Segal
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@alberto-abalos1504
Beautiful version / makes me cry with her rendition
@CeeCeeable
I never knew Joni had her version of this song...Beautiful!! Thanks John for sending.
@jtls8
Beautiful version!! Thank you for uploading! Thank you John for sending.
@foxvienna1
Ms. Joni what wonderful sounds from a master of song!
@nicky0016dd
BEAUTIFUL version!
@joeasmythe
No doubt about it, Joni reigns supreme
@joeycrinita5208
Joni, always the voice of an angel.
@nicky0016dd
My Mom used to sing this song to me when I was a little girl. Oh, Mommy I LOVE and MISS YOU TERRIBLY. ~~~~1927-2013~~~~ ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ ♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡ XOXO XOXO XOXO XOXO
@Fegen100
Sterling performance by the "Queen of Ballads."