Aldrich's albums are usually pretty , easy listening,but if you haven't heard one, it's worth spending up to three bucks to own your own little bit of authentic 60s experience. Not the Haight-Ashbury-Woodstock-Jimi Hendrix kind of experience, but the experience most people had. What he produced entertained millions, although obviously not cutting edge music. Put on Ronnie's take on "Music to Watch Girls By" and you can imagine yourself strolling down the aisle at the A&P or shopping for school clothes at J.C. Penney. Or riding an elevator to your dad's office. Or waiting at the Omaha Airport. Who needs Eastern philosophy to get blissed out?
Born at Erith , Kent, U K, 15th February 1916, educated in Folkestone and proved musically talented as he learnt to play the piano aged only 3 !!! After his musical career he retired to the Isle of Man, where he died, from prostate cancer, aged 77, on the 30th September 1993.
Scarlet Ribbons
Ronnie Aldrich 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 to Ronnie Aldrich's "Scarlet Ribbons" tell the story of a parent who overhears their child's prayer, in which they ask for some scarlet ribbons for their hair. The parent goes out into town to try and fulfill their child's wish, but all the stores are closed and there are no ribbons to be found. Throughout the night, the parent's heart aches as they cannot fulfill their child's simple request. However, just before dawn, they peek into their child's room and find that the scarlet ribbons have appeared on their bed as if by magic. The parent cannot explain where they came from, but is overjoyed that their child's wish has been granted.
The song speaks to the theme of love and redemption, where the child's innocent wish is granted through what seems like an act of magic. The reference to the "magic in the air" adds to the mystical and otherworldly feeling of the narrative. The song is also a reminder to parents of the power they have to make their children's wishes come true, even when the odds seem stacked against them.
Line by Line Meaning
You know I peeked in to say goodnight,
I went to my child's room to say goodnight.
When I heard my child in prayer.
I overheard my child praying.
She said, "And for me some scarlet ribbons, Scarlet ribbons for my hair."
My child asked for scarlet ribbons to put in her hair.
All the stores were closed and shuttered,
All the stores were closed for the night.
And all the streets were dark and bare.
The streets were empty and quiet.
In our town, no scarlet ribbons, Not one ribbon for her hair.
There were no red ribbons available in our town.
Through the night my heart was aching.
I felt sad and worried throughout the night.
And just before the dawn was breaking,
Right before sunrise.
I peeked in and on her bed, In gay profusion lying there,
I looked in and saw many red ribbons lying on her bed.
Lovely ribbons, scarlet ribbons. Scarlet ribbons for her hair.
Beautiful red ribbons that my child wanted for her hair.
If I live to be a hundred,
Even if I live a long time.
I will never, never know from where,
I will never find out where they came from.
Came those lovely scarlet ribbons, Scarlet Ribbons for her hair.
Where the red ribbons that magically appeared came from.
Scarlet ribbons, there's magic in the air.
The red ribbons seemed to appear out of thin air.
Scarlet, scarlet ribbons for her hair.
Red ribbons that my child loves to wear in her hair.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: EVELYN DANZIG, JACK SEGAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind