Music Blog

Youthful Indiscretions

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

Written for Song Lyric Sunday.
Here’s what I have to say.

Catherine Howard, Original Artwork: After a color print by Bostolozzi.
(Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

This week for Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday, the theme is “Understanding Reality”. The challenge? To write about a song that is based on reality. Thanks to Badfinger (Max) of PowerPop for the suggestion.

For more than half a century, Ritchie Blackmore has been at the heart of British rock and is one of the most influential guitarists of the rock era. He is known around the world for his work as lead guitarist with the groups Deep Purple and Rainbow. Blackmore is recognized for his innovative guitar playing style, blending hard rock, heavy metal, blues rock, and progressive rock influences with classical and Renaissance music elements.

Ritchie Blackmore began his career as a session musician in the 1960s. In 1968 he co-founded Deep Purple – a band that became a major force in the development of rock and heavy metal. With Deep Purple, he co-wrote and performed iconic tracks like “Smoke On the Water”, showcasing his signature guitar riffs and solos. After leaving Deep Purple, Blackmore formed Rainbow which initially fused hard rock with baroque music influences; over time Rainbow’s sound evolved, incorporating more mainstream rock and pop elements. In 1997 Blackmore formed Blackmore’s Night, a band focusing on traditional folk rock sounds and featuring his wife, Candice Night.

The song I have chosen to feature today is all about the rise and fall of Catherine Howard by Blackmore’s Night performed in classical Olde English style.

For those of you who don’t recall your history lessons (or didn’t watch The Tudors mini-series on TV), Catherine Howard was a young woman from a noble but financially struggling family who became the fifth wife of King Henry VIII. She rose to prominence at court as a lady-in-waiting to Anne of Cleves, Henry’s fourth wife (soon to be ex-wife). Henry quickly became infatuated with Catherine and they secretly married. She was proclaimed Queen just weeks after Henry and Anne’s marriage was annulled.

Initially, Catherine brought a sense of youthful joy to the aging king, who was 30 years her senior. That happiness, however, was short-lived as Catherine’s indiscretions and alleged affairs with other men came to light. This became a source of great scandal.

Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, presented evidence of Catherine’s past to Henry; enraged by these revelations, Henry passed a law declaring it treason for a queen to have had a premarital affair. Catherine was arrested and imprisoned. She was found guilty of treason and beheaded at the Tower of London in February 1542, just 18 months after her marriage. She was only 18 years old.

Despite her youth and initial allure, Catherine’s story is one of tragedy, highlighting the dangers of life at the Tudor court, particularly for women. Her execution was a brutal end to her short reign and a stark reminder of the consequences of Henry’s wrath. 

This is “Catherine Howard’s Fate” by Blackmore’s Night with scenes from The Tudors mini-series starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Henry VIII.

LYRICS

Oh, to my dearest ruler and lord
Merciful husband
Noblest of kings…
Your heart of gold has long since tarnished
In my chambers
What will the morning bring?
Was it my heart that doth betray me
Cause I loved more than one man?
Is it true you 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
Was it 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…

Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Richard Blackmore/Candice Lauren Blackmore
Catherine Howard’s Fate lyrics © Minstrel Hall Music, Haunted Song Music, Wixen Music Uk Ltd (prs), Wixen Music (uk) Ltd

This is a short video about the tragic life of Catherine Howard.

Understanding Reality

Big thanks to Jim Adams for hosting another great Song Lyric Sunday this week and every week. Be sure to follow the link and check out Jim’s site.

Thanks for stopping by and listening to some tunes.

That’s all she wrote, kids. See you on the flip side. 😎

NAR©2025

All text, graphics and videos are copyright for Nancy’s Notes 🖊️🎶, The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk, The Rhythm Section, et al., and are not for use by anyone without permission. NAR©2017-present.

55 thoughts on “Youthful Indiscretions”

  5. Yes, Nancy, …the saying associated with Henry VIII’s wives is: “Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived, …I watch every series about Our Henry,.. I know the women were usually forced into it by their families, power and money wise, … but surely you’d run a mile, … especially if you were one of the later ones, …only 18, …sheesh! 💫

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    1. Every movie I’ve ever seen on this subject contains the line “But Mummy, he’s so old! I just couldn’t!” And the father butts in with “That may very well be true, but he is the King of England and you will do whatever is asked of you and make this family proud!”

      These poor young girls; I can only imagine how grossed out they were at the idea of marrying someone 30 years older than them who bathed 2 or 3 times a year …. even if he was the King of England. However, looking at it from Henry’s side, Catherine’s diddling around with other guys (especially ones in the King’s court) was a sure fire way of getting Old Hank ‘royally’ pissed off.

      I guess the only alternative was to run for the hills!

      Yeah, 18. Tis a terrible shame.

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      1. As with Ann Boleyn, .Nancy, ….there were so many rumours on their fidelity, …makes you wonder how much truth was involved,…the threat / use of torture to get confessions, must have meant they’d say anything , … I guess the truth, the whole truth will never be known,… and baths?…can you imagine the smells in the castle? Everyone dirty, … apparently (just checked Google), there were toilet facilities, but very basic, … hold your nose time… sorry Nancy , this is just one of my favourite subjects, … but at least they had toilets, the court of Versailles, they just used to crouch down, and deposit, wherever they were, … I know I know, … a great subject, … but I’m fascinated by it, …💫

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        1. Oh shit! Figuratively and literally! Before I wrote 2 or 3 baths a year, I checked google, too. There it said that Henry had wonderful baths with tubs, steam and toilettes but he preferred to just change clothes and use perfume. I’m gagging as I write this. I’m totally fascinated by this subject, too, Penn.

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          1. Did you find out about the Master of the Stools? Nancy, … apparently it was an exalted position, … it gave you the ear of the king, … but also you had to get rid of rubbish, coming from the other end, …chamber pot wise, …I think I’d pass, ..…😂

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    1. A few people come to mind, Liz.

      In an earlier comment I suggested history be taught in schools via these songs by Blackmore, Neil Young and Iron Maiden (the masters of historical storytelling); our students would love learning about history!

      Blackmore’s Night has some excellent tunes. Thanks very much, Liz!

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  9. I had no idea this song existed! OMG! I am a huge fan of The Tudors which is where the video got the scenes. This was amazing- as was your narrative about Richie Blackmore- who I have always respected but didn’t really know that much about. Excellent as always!

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    1. Blackmore is a musical genius, The Tudors is fabulous, and I’m a history buff …. a perfect triple play! There are so many songs about real events but none quite like this …. a no-brainer for me. Besides, it gave me another look at Jonathan Rhys Meyers which is never a bad thing. 😎

      Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed this.

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                  1. When I was a kid my mom would not let me have any inside pets…well…I saw them in the encyclopedia and fell for them…this is our 3rd Saint…they are stubborn but the sweetest dogs in the world. It IS like having a cow in your house lol.
                    You should do that…they are such interesting dogs.

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                    2. I’ve done a few posts on ours…people really like them because they are so different to other dogs. LOL…I can imagine…you have to fight for photo space.

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    1. Thank you, Christine. I’m a history buff; mix that with this (or anything done by Iron Maiden) and I’m in! I’ve seen The Tudors also and while it’s a grossly romanticized account, it was well done and the historical facts are left in tact. Life was not easy back then! I’m glad to know you enjoyed my write-up.

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  13. I’ve always admired Ritchie Blackmore’s ability to blend rock with historical and classical influences,…and bringing Catherine Howard’s tragic story to life through music is such a creative touch. Great write-up and an unexpected but perfect connection to ‘understanding reality’!

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    1. Blackmore has been a favorite of mine for as long as I can remember. Add that to my love of history and it’s a perfect match. Catherine did the misdeed and Henry was the master of changing or creating the law to suit is personal needs. A fascinating peek at history. Perhaps if historical subjects were taught via the music of Iron Maiden, Neil Young, Ritchie Blackmore, etc., students would actually listen and learn. Thanks, Willow!

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