Blackmore's Night Songs - Catherine Howard's Fate Lyrics

Blackmore's Night - Catherine Howard's Fate

Blackmore's Night - Catherine Howard's Fate Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Under a Violet Moon
Released: 1999

Catherine Howard's Fate Lyrics

Oh, to my dearest ruler and lord
Merciful husband
Noblest of kings...
Your heart of gold has long since tarnished

In my chamber
What will the morning bring?
What it my heart that doth betray me
'Cause I loved more than one man?

Is it true your wear a wounded spirit?
Pray let me mend it and make our love anew...

Allow me to be your humble servant
Once again, as before...
Are you like the others, so quick to judge
And for this the queen must fall

What is my heart that doth betray me
'Cause I loved more than one man?
Truth within the writings of a letter
Signed and sealed poor Catherine Howard's Fate...

Truth within the writings of a letter
Signed and sealed poor Catherine Howard's fate...

Writer/s: BLACKMORE, RITCHIE/NIGHT, CANDICE
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Catherine Howard's Fate Song Chart

Running to 2 minutes 34 seconds, this Ritchie Blackmore/Candice Night composition in classical Olde Englishe style is about the wife of Henry VIII. One of them! Also spelt Kathryn Howard, she was wife number 5, and was to become the second to be executed (read murdered) by this talented but notorious tyrant.

She and Henry were married July 28, 1540, at Oatlands Palace, Surrey. On February 15, 1542, she was beheaded in the Tower of London. Her exact age is unknown but she was almost certainly no more than 19. It appears that the young Catherine did indeed betray her marriage vows, which would normally constitute adultery, but at that time was also classed as treason. Her execution came less than six years after that of Henry's second wife, Anne Boleyn, she who walks the Bloody Tower with her head tucked underneath her arm.

Unlike this latter, the Blackmore's Night song is not frivolous at all but is an address to the King, and clearly a futile one. It ends with a reference to a letter (in her own hand) that betrayed her. This remains a matter of contention, but sadly her fate does not. (thanks, Alexander Baron - London, England)