Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato From: GUEST,Tara Cox Date: 08 May 04 - 09:35 AM I've been searching for these lyrics for years now. All I could remember was the first verse, although I remembered well how it ended! I attended school in Boyertown, Pennsylvania and learned it in 3rd grade from Mrs. Lamb, bless her heart! I've been wanting to teach the lyrics to my children. Thank you all so much, you've made my day! Don Gato will live on!!! |
Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato From: GUEST,Stewart Date: 18 May 04 - 04:44 PM HA! Years later, I happen to STILL be searching for a legit tab / chord layout for Don Gato, and come across this thread... hysterical that it's still rolling. By gum, I'm going to get a solid guitar version of this down - I now have a neice who is 1 yr old, and I can't imagine her growing up without Don Gato!! I'll be back, Stewart |
Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato From: GUEST,Crystal Date: 22 Jul 04 - 11:44 AM I'm from Springfield, Missouri.. I'm 17. I learned it in school as well.. I've been searching for a full leanth midi/wav/mp3 of the music for a while.. still no luck. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 22 Jul 04 - 01:28 PM Simple sheet music, midi, ABC, etc. at numachi. Not quite the original Spanish tune, but usable: Don Gato The best rendition was at the Sephardic site, but it is gone. Luckily I recorded it. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 22 Jul 04 - 09:13 PM El Senor Don Gato - El Senor Mr. Cat (both Spanish and English) may be downloaded here: Don Gato- Mr Cat A lively, unusual arrangement from an album of northern Spanish songs. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato From: GUEST,J.D. Roberson Date: 26 Jul 04 - 08:10 AM "Robert" posted a nice mp3 recording at this forum on April 1, 2004. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 26 Jul 04 - 03:25 PM On 16 April, 04, I gave a link to the website Sephardic Folk Literature, which includes many versions of "Don Gato" collected in Spain, Latin America, New Mexico and Morocco. One, collected in Morocco, Tetuán, by Susana Weich-Shahak, is a child's version, used to teach Jewish children. It is brief. Estaba el señor don Gato sentadito en su tejado con la(s) mano en la cintura y la otra en el costado. Por ahí pasóo una gata con las ojos 'relumbrando; la gata (sic), por darle un beso, se cayó de su tejado, Mandaron por los ductores, Ductores y cirujanos; uno le mira la pierna, otro le mira el costado. Señor Gato está muy malo, señor Gato ya se ha muerto; ya lo llevan a enterrar y la plaza del pescado, al olor de las sardinas el gato ha resucitado. Basic sheet music is given, and the song may be downloaded. Music at Don Gato music Discussion and text at Don Gato text If these don't work, use the index link I gave 16 April 04 and scroll way down. Age unknown. Apparently there are no known written records of the song before the 18th c, so it cannot be shown that it was sung in Spain before the expulsion of the Jews. Sephardic songs continued to evolve through time, with new additions, so the fact that a song is in their current literature is not proof of 15th c. existence. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 26 Jul 04 - 03:30 PM The link gets one to the Don Gato texts, but not directly to the song. Scroll way, way down. The link is slow; this is a large website. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 26 Jul 04 - 11:43 PM There are many versions of the story, not all with happy endings for the cat. Lyr. Add: El Señor Don Gato Estaba el señor don gato, en silla de oro sentado, calzando medias de seda y zapatitos dorados, cuando llegó' la noticia que debía ser casado, con una gatita parda, hija de un gato romano. (There was Señor Don Gato, Seated on a golden chair, Wearing stockings of silk and little golden shoes; When the news came that he was to be wed To a brown kitten, daughter of a Roman cat.) El gato, con la alegría, subió a bailar al tejado; mas con un palo le dieron, y rodando vino abajo. (The cat, joyfully, Ascended to dance on the tile roof; But he tripped on a stick and tumbled down below.) Se rompió siete costillas y la puntita del rabo. (He broke seven ribs and the tip of his tail.) Llamaron a los médicos, doctores y cirujanos; mataron siete gallinas y le dieron de un caldo. (They called for the doctors, Physicians and surgeons; They killed seven hens And made a broth for him.) Lo llevaron a enterrar al pobrecito don gato y lo llevaron en hombros cuatro gatos colorados. (They came to bury Poor little Don Gato; Four red cats Bore him on their shoulders.) Sobre la cajita iban siete rationes bailando al ver que se había muerto su enemigo más malo. (On the little casket rode Seven dancing mice; Having seen that Their worst enemy was dead.) Apologies for my very free translation. Don Gato |
Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 27 Jul 04 - 12:04 AM The page has an n with a tilde (ñ); perhaps that is why I can't bring it up. Any advice? http://www.profesorenlinea.cl/primysgdo/rimasypoemas/elseñordongato.html
-Joe Offer- Estaba el señor don gato, Se rompió siete costillas |
Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato From: GUEST,Kristen Miller Date: 27 Jul 04 - 03:41 PM I can't believe there are so many people out there who remember this song! My sons were singing a song that had a similar tune this afternoon and I realized that I remembered this song (just not all the lyrics). Thanks to all of you for supplying the rest of them! |
Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato From: GUEST,Guest, Fred Date: 08 Sep 04 - 06:04 PM I stumbled onto this thread when searching for recordings of Don Gato, and I found one no-one has mentioned so far: It's on a childrens CD called 'The Bottle Let Me Down' by various artists. The artist that performs Don Gato is Kelly Hogan, and from the little blurb you get on Amazon it sounds like a really good version! Worth buying the rest of the CD for...It was recorded June 18, 2002 by Bloodshot Records, ASIN: B000066JE8. Any other Gato fans heard this recording? Is it as good as it sounds? |
Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato From: Joe Offer Date: 08 Sep 04 - 06:53 PM Hi, Fred - yes, 'The Bottle Let Me Down' is a good collection, and the "Don Gato" cut is an exceptionally good English-language recording of the song. There's a Rounder CD called Songs and Games of Latin America by "El Lobo" that has a good Spanish-language recording of "Gato." -Joe Offer- |
Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato From: GUEST,David Date: 11 Sep 04 - 06:46 PM |
Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato From: GUEST,David Rose Date: 11 Sep 04 - 06:51 PM I learned this song in 3rd grade in Clinton, MD. I apologize for not remembering the name of my Music teacher. I cried for both the sadness and joy in this song then, and still do now that I am 37. In the version we sung, I seem to remember something about a credenza. I thought he had fallen from it and I don't recall a red roof at all. I remembered the credenza because everytime I heard the word, it reminded my of the song. This has got to be the longest running, semi-active thread that I have ever seen. Thank you for keeping it alive. This is my favorite song from my childhood (I love cats). |
Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato From: GUEST,Dr. Val Date: 15 Sep 04 - 08:55 PM I learned this song in first grade (1967?) in Miami public schools. It was in a song book we used in class. I remembered the first stanza all these years, and I'm grateful to all who have posted on this site. Thanks! |
Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato From: GUEST,bethmariead@earthlink.net Date: 21 Sep 04 - 12:27 AM I, too, am laughing my head off reading all these comments. I learned Don Gato from Mr. Henley in fifth grade in Cincinnati, Ohio (1973) I don't remember much from fifth grade but for some reason was able to sing almost the entire song to my kids using their stuffed kitties as props. I just couldn't remember the verse after "And they held a consultation about how to save their patient," so like Suzette I have made up my own ending to the song for years. Tonight I thought I would go on line for kicks and see if I could find the lyrics and there they were! I wonder what makes this song so memorable to so many people? |
Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato From: GUEST,J.D. Roberson Date: 01 Oct 04 - 03:59 PM bethmariead, When I've mentioned this song to people who remember it, they will almost always refer to the "Meow, Meow, Meow" lyric. I think it was simply a fun song that talked about an animal which many kids had as pets. The death-and-reanimation part was also very memorable to young children. Because it was a ballad, or story-telling song, it made sense to the young mind and was easy to remember in sequence. JDRoberson |
Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 08 Oct 04 - 08:01 PM The Spanish version posted by Joe, 15 Sept 98, has a chorus or refrain for each couplet, not just one for the song. It is just as easy to post the entire lyrics, with the pronunciation which is provided. It is an excellent version for small children. Perhaps Joe will wish to put it together in one post. Lyr. Add: DON GATO (SIR CAT) Sentado en silla de oro estaba el señor Don Gato Sehn-tah-doh ehn see-yah deh oh-roh en-stah-bah ehl sehn-yohr Dohn Ga-toh Seated on chair of gold was Mr. Sir Cat. con unas medias de seda y unos zapatitos blancos kohn oo-nahs meh-d'yahs deh seh-dah ee oo-nohs sah-pah-tee-tohs blahn-kohs with stockings of silk and little shoes of white. Chorus: Até y alé pum, até y alé pum, y unos zapititos blancos Ah-teh' ee ah-leh' poom, ah-teh' ee ah-leh' poom, ee oo-nohs sah-pah-tee-tohs blahn-kohs Ate y ale pum, ate y ale pum, and little shoes white. Ha recibido una carta que si quiere ser casado Ah reh-see-bee-doh oo-nah kahr-tah keh see k'yeh-reh sehr kah-sah-doh He has received a letter that if he wishes to be married. con una gatita parda, sobrina de un gato pardo kohn oo-nah gah-tee-tah pahr-dah, soh-bree-nah deh oon gah-toh pahr-doh with a cat dark, niece of a cat dark. Chorus: Até y alé pum, até y alé pum, sobrina de un gato pardo Ah-teh ee ah-leh poom, ah-teh ee ah-leh poom, soh-bree-nah deh oon gah-toh pahr-doh Ate y ale pum, ate y ale pum, niece of a cat dark. El gatito, de contento se ha caído del tejado Ehl gah-tee-toh deh kohn-tehn-toh seh ah kah-ee-doh dehl teh-hah-doh The kitten, from joy, has fallen from the roof. Ya se ha muerto, ya se ha muerto, ya se ha muerto, el gatito Yah seh ah m'wehr-toh, yah seh ah m'wehr-toh, yah seh ah m'wehr-toh, ehl gah-tee-toh Now he has died, now he has died, now he has died, the kitten. Chorus: Até y alé pum, até y alé pum, ya se ha muerto, el gatito Ah-teh ee ah-leh poom, ah-teh ee ah-leh poom, yah seh ah m'wehr-toh, ehl gah-tee-toh ate y ale pum, ate y ale pum, now he has died, the kitten. Ya lo llevan a enterrar, por la calle del pescado Yah loh yeh-vahn ah ehn-tehr-rar, pohr lah kah-yeh dehl pehs-kah-doh Now they take him to be buried, through the street of the fish. Las gatitas van de luto y los ratones bailando Lahs gah-tee-tahs vahn deh loo-toh ee lohs rah-toh-nehs b'eye-lahn-doh The kittens go in mourning and the rats are dancing. Chorus: Até y alé pum, até y alé pum, y los ratones bailando Ah-teh ee ah-leh poom, ah-teh ee ah-leh poom, ee lohs rah-toh-nehs b'eye-lahn-doh ate y ale pum, ate y ale pum, and the rats dancing. Y al olor de las sardinas el gato ha resucitado Ee ahl oh-lohr deh lahs sahr-dee-nahs ehl gah-toh ah reh-soo-see-tah-doh And at the smell of the sardines the cat has revived. Por eso dicen la Gente: siete vidas tiene el gato Pohr eh-soh dee-sehn lah Hehn-teh: s'yeh-teh vee-dahs t'yeh-neh ehl gah-toh That is why say the people: seven lives has the cat. Chorus: Até y alé pum, até y alé pum, siete vidas tiene el gato Ah-teh ee ah-leh poom, ah-teh ee ah-leh poom, s'yeh-tehvee-dahs t'yeh-neh ehl gah-toh. From the children's book by Henrietta Yurchenco, illus. Jules Maidoff, 1967, "A Fiesta of Folk Songs from Spain and Latin America," pp. 4-6 with music, G. P. Putnam's Sons, NYC. Ethnomusicologist Ms Yurchenco lived in Mexico, lectured at CCNY, was folk song editor for The American Record Guide, worked on Gullah songs in the islands of South Carolina, and has spent 60 of her 80 years collecting and recording folk song in many parts of the world. She is featured in the National Geographic book, "Songcatchers: In Search of the World's Music." Some of her recordings have been issued by The Archive of American Folk Song, Library of Congress. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato From: GUEST Date: 15 Oct 04 - 10:36 PM |
Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato From: GUEST,GA Date: 15 Oct 04 - 10:40 PM I am so pleased to come across this site. I guess everyone learned this song in elementary school. I learned it at King Springs Elementary in Smyrna GA around 1978-79. I have been trying to remember the lyrics for a long time and now that I have kids, I wanted to see if I could find them on the internet. What a great invention! You can find anything! |
Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato From: Bev and Jerry Date: 16 Oct 04 - 12:30 AM We would translate the line "Las gatitas van de luto y los ratones bailando" a little more loosely as "The lady cats are mourning and the rats are dancing". This line never fails to get big laughs among Spanish speaking kids. Bev and Jerry |
Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato From: GUEST,Liz P Date: 27 Oct 04 - 05:48 PM I too remember a few snipits from lines that aren't here anywhere. One was the line about linens and lienent. The other was "the sound was heard for miles around." Does anybody else know about these missing lyrics? Also in one version his name was Del Gato. I sang this song in four Elementary schools all over the country in the early 80's. Westerville, OH; Hereford, TX; Lemont, IL; and Aiken, SC. It seems as though it was everywhere! You have no idea how excited I was to find this site. I have been singing it to my 3 year old all day and she keeps asking to hear it over and over again. My husband is going to hate me! VIVA DON GATO! |
Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 27 Oct 04 - 06:28 PM I wouldn't call them 'missing lyrics'. They might be called alternate lyrics. Over the many years that this song has been popular and spread beyond the Spanish-speaking realm, the story has changed and ramified. There is no version that has 'all' of the verses, because they would contradict each other. The music also differs from version to version. 'Del Gato' is simply a mis-hearing, or mistake in transcription. Natalie Merchant made the mistake in one or more of her concerts. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato From: GUEST,Liz P Date: 28 Oct 04 - 07:19 PM I would be interested to know if anybody remebers the alternate lyrics? I can't seem to find them anywhere. My daughter made me sing the song to her preschool teacher today ~ the entire song. It was great, they thought she was nuts talking about a song involving a cat, smelly fish, and a salty lexus (solarplexis). We got a good laugh out of that one! |
Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 28 Oct 04 - 08:01 PM Oh, you mean parody. Clean or blue? Possibly a parody of the (ugh) version here: Gato |
Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato From: GUEST Date: 21 Nov 04 - 01:50 PM http://www.bledsoe.k12.tn.us/docs/spsing.html |
Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 21 Nov 04 - 04:17 PM Nice little children's versions of Spanish songs at this Pikeville Elementary website, posted by guest. Vamanos a cantar! |
Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato From: GUEST,Amanda Date: 20 Dec 04 - 10:49 AM I learned this song in public school, Arkansas, early 80's, Ozarks, Northwest corner as posted by JD Roberson sep 98. Additionally, moved to Arizona in 4th grade, had the same song in music class. Got this stuck in my head today for some weird reason, searched for the lyrics and found this page. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato From: Bev and Jerry Date: 21 Dec 04 - 01:41 AM This is one of the very first threads to be started with the first post being about six weeks after the birth of Mudcat. It surly is the longest running thread ever. Bev and Jerry |
Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato From: GUEST,Lisa W. Date: 12 Jan 05 - 05:32 PM It's amazing how a song can take you back to a certain place, make you laugh, make you cry and put you in a very reflective mood. I have been there today. While at work, senior don gato popped into my mind. I made a quick note to myself to do a search for senior don gato, and it landed me here! I remembered a few verses, but not all of them. Part of the way down, when lyrics were posted, I thought they were missing a couple of verses. The next thing I know, someone is sharing those verses! I also remembered the tune, and sang it to everyone in the office. I am the only one who learned it in school. I wanted desparately to hear it, and as I kept reading, a man had the recording! It was the one I knew from my days at Petersen Elementary in Houston, Texas! I've been listening to it all day! I cant't wait to teach it to the children at my church and to share it with my sister, who teaches Pre-K. Thank you for taking me back over 30 years and helping me to relive those glorius days of 4th grade! Thanks to all of the music teachers across the nation for sharing the magic of music with your students! |
Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato From: GUEST,Liz P Date: 19 Jan 05 - 09:53 PM Lisa, Will you please share the missing verses with us? I would love it. Thanks, Liz P |
Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato From: GUEST,Lisa W. Date: 20 Jan 05 - 07:11 PM Hi Liz, The verses I am referring to can be found above on an entry on September 15, 1998 from J.D. Roberson. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato From: GUEST,Jim and Kristin Date: 22 Jan 05 - 08:16 PM My wife and I love this song. We also learned it a children in the mid-70's. I learned it in Flint, Michigan, and she just south of there in Fenton, Michigan. She asked me to find the complete lyrics for it and I couldn't believe this thread existed. I'll take the chords and play it for my son on my guitar. He'll love it (I hope). Viva Don Gato! |
Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato From: Teresa Date: 22 Jan 05 - 10:21 PM Oh, i almost forgot about this song! I know I heard it in school in the 70s. I'm also thinking the Kingston trio recorded it, but I'm not sure about that; I'm going to see if I can find out if that's true. Teresa |
Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato From: Teresa Date: 22 Jan 05 - 10:27 PM Oh no, I was thinking of an entirely different song recorded by the Kingston trio. LOL But I do remember singing Don gato in school. :) Teresa |
Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato From: GUEST,Liz P Date: 23 Jan 05 - 10:39 PM Thanks Lisa, I have seen those, but I think there might be some missing lyrics somewhere. I remember something about linen and linements........... |
Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato From: GUEST Date: 29 Jan 05 - 12:53 AM I've been searching for this version for years. who did the recording in 1974? I'd love to buy a copy of the original? Ron H. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato From: GUEST,sthornton@cisd.org Date: 03 Feb 05 - 12:12 PM Hi--I graduated from High School in '79, had listened to and learned the song in Louisiana--Miss Nutter was our teacher. CRY song, in third grade! We all loved it, but I think the class loved watching me cry when the music started to play. We had the music book Making Music My/or/Our Own. I actually sing it for my High school Spanish classes, and some of them join in! |
Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato From: GUEST,JeffShalom@JesusAnswers.com Date: 08 Feb 05 - 03:46 PM REALLY INTERESTING how many other people are into this song! I'd really like to know the history behind it. Fascinating all the different versions. I was at work at thought of it. Down here in Memphis TN, no-one I've talked to ever heard it! Ask my friends, too... no luck. I grew up in SouthCentral PA where we learned it in gradeschool. Okay, call me a softy... but it still makes me cry ! |
Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato From: GUEST,GUEST, Kat Date: 18 Feb 05 - 02:55 AM I heard this song in the mid 90's from my friends who went to school in another city. I live in New Zealand, and if you think it's hard to find someone who knows the song in america, boy, you should try it here! my mother and I have been singing this on and off for years since we heard it, although it never occured to me to come looking for the lyrics and music until now! |
Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato From: GUEST,pavane Date: 18 Feb 05 - 08:28 AM I have this in a BBC childrens program songbook, from the early 1960's, where it also says it was a traditional Spanish song (as we already know). Not sure when it was first translated to Engish though. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 18 Feb 05 - 02:52 PM First appearance in English probably in one of the songbooks, but there are many versions of this 18th c. song, and thus a number of different translations. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato From: GUEST,S Date: 18 Mar 05 - 09:43 PM Does anyone know what The title, Author, Copyright date or ISBN. to the Elementary Music Book this was in? I first learned it in the late 70`s in a Detroit suburb.(Garden City) I think it was the 2nd or 4th grade. I seem to remember it to be a GREEN hardcover book with a picture of a cat on the cover. It seems it was the same picture that was on the page of the song. I have read about all the other threads and found several others that talk of what book it is in, but very few, and none that descibe it as I just have. Thanks |
Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 18 Mar 05 - 10:53 PM Since the song probably has appeared in more than one elementary shool music book, and we have not posted a complete inventory, the question is difficult to answer unless a Mudcat member has the volume you are describing. Among the school songbooks listed in our threads, it appears in only Silver Burdett Pub., Crook et al., Grade Four, Centennial Edition, 1985 (ISBN 0-382-05925-5). Thread 69315, Silver Burdett school music books listed so far: Silver Burdett I checked the thread on Follett Music Books, and the song is not in those we have inventoried- thread 70064. Follett |
Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato From: Bev and Jerry Date: 19 Mar 05 - 01:33 AM We have a xerox copy of this song taken from a book which we got at least 20 years ago. On the copy we have written, "Making Music Your Own, Vol. 4, p. 172". This book seems to be available here and here or here on Ebay. Bev and Jerry |
Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 19 Mar 05 - 01:39 PM Thanks, Bev and Jerry. You have identified the Silver Burdett series. The Silver Burdett Making Music Your Own in green cover, grade 4, 1967, is available for $2.00 through Abebooks (also a few others at various higher prices). There are both hardbound and spiral bound editions in this 1960s-1970s time period. Was there a change in content? Ask the dealer if the song is in the book before you buy to make certain you are getting the right edition. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato From: GUEST,S Date: 21 Mar 05 - 11:54 AM Thanks for the help! This site is great. I love the Internet.I will be visiting this site periodically, it`ll be great to see how much more detailed info will develop over time. Thanks again, S |
Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato From: GUEST,S Date: 24 Mar 05 - 10:04 PM Does anyone know who sings the version that Robert posted on April 1,04. According to him it would have to have been before 1974. It sounds like a small chorus of children or girls. It has some music instruments playing along (like guitar)and drums start at the part,"When the funeral passed the market square". ,Thanks for any help |
Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 24 Mar 05 - 10:17 PM www.gandronics.com/rberry. You can contact him at rberry@nc.rr.com and ask him where he got it. |
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