The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #162 Message #1292733
Posted By: Q (Frank Staplin)
08-Oct-04 - 08:01 PM
Thread Name: Origins: Senor Don Gato
Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato
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.