In both the Marvellous Toy and Scarlet Ribbons, there's nothing to say the toy or the ribbons were Christmas presents - they could equally have been birthday presents, or just gifts not related to any 'special' day.

But at least we know it was the singer's father who gave him the Marvellous Toy.

In the case of the scarlet ribbons, it remains a mystery who left the ribbons in the girl's bedroom. I suppose I and many others assumed it was Santa, because in many households, Santa would leave the gifts in the kids' rooms while they were asleep.

It may be argued it could equally have been the kid's parent in the song who left the ribbons (not the one who discovered the ribbons, but the other one). But then, in that case, why didn't the parent who found the ribbons ask the other one? He/she says "If I live to be a hundred, I will never know from where came those lovely scarlet ribbons" - this is hardly likely to be said if he/she could just ask their partner.

So I can assume the singer is a lone parent, and the ribbons were put there by a third party - Santa would be a prime suspect, except there is nothing to say this happened at Christmas. The only clue is the fact that "All our town was closed and shuttered, All the streets were dark and bare" - which could imply it took place in winter. But not necessarily, for the town could have been a hotbed of crime and shuttering the windows could have been commonplace even in warm weather.

And even if it was winter, it might not have been Christmas.

So I guess we, like the singer, will never know - even if we live to be a hundred.

Blimey - where does that leave us?