The Ballad of Henry’s Brides

Hear ye! Hear ye! Gather close and mind me well lest you wed a king and find yourself headless Oh, Henry was a king so bold, six wives he did acquire But if you caught his wandering eye, your fate was ever dire First came Catherine, loyal, true she gave him all her years Yet when she bore no royal son, he cast her out in tears One by one, they come and go, their heads may roll, the tale doth show Oh, beware, young maids, stay far away Lest Henry choose you for his play For if you wed, then mark these words You may not live to see the third Anne Boleyn, a beauty bright, she danced into his view She stole his heart, she bore him none so off her head it flew Then came Jane, so sweet, so mild, she birthed his only son But Heaven called her far too soon her battle had been won One by one, they come and go, a crown may shine but death doth show Oh, beware, young maids, stay far away Lest Henry choose you for his play For if you wed, then mark these words You may not live to see the third Anne of Cleves, a painted fate, a portrait told a lie He took one look, declared her plain, and left her high and dry Poor young Kitty, sweet sixteen, she tried to love him true But one small slip, her fate was sealed the axe, it straightly flew One more left! Who shall it be? Who can outlive royalty Catherine Parr, the clever lass, she saw what lay ahead She played it smart, she played it well, and kept her lovely head So heed my tale, ye maidens all, don't marry for the throne For Henry's love is fleeting fast and you'll be left alone Oh, beware, young maids, stay far away Lest Henry choose you for his play For if you wed, then mark these words You may not live to see the third And so ends the tale of Henry's brides heed it well, or lose your heads