Origins: Senor Don Gato

Subject: RE: Senor Don Gato-Music Is Available
From: GUEST,Kelly Kozar
Date: 16 Aug 00 - 01:43 AM

Hello everybody! I remember this song from the 5th grade when my class used to sing it all of the time. It was actually in a music textbbook that we used. I understand everybody's fascination with it, I have always loved it myself. As it turns out, the song (words & music) is still included in the Silver Burdett music texts for children. I'm not sure, but they probably have a recording of it to go with the text. Here is the information on obtaining a copy of the text anyway. DON GATO is in the grade 3 book of the current music program. The book can be purchased by calling Silver Burdett at [phone]. Its order number is 0382345029, and the price is $39.45. Hope this helps! ~=#;>

Subject: RE: Senor Don Gato
From: Joe Offer
Date: 16 Aug 00 - 02:44 AM

I think it's fun that this thread has been with us ever since 1996, and keeps popping up with a bit more information here and there. Lots of different, fun versions of this song are around. Make me think of all the stray cats who hang out in my yard, looking through my window at me and watching with great interest. I think they believe I'm in a cage, getting exercise by clicking my fingers on a plastic thing on a shelf. I'm sure they think I'm weird, but harmless.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Senor Don Gato
From:
Date: 17 Sep 00 - 03:52 PM

In second grade we sang Don Gato, but the version we sang he married her but ran away the next day. has anybody ever heard of this?

Subject: RE: Senor Don Gato
From: GUEST,Brian
Date: 19 Nov 00 - 09:47 AM

Wow! A veritable Don Gato fan club - how great! I used to sing this song with my 2nd grade class in Colorado Springs, CO (1978). A few days ago it popped into my head but I could only remember the first verse. My girlfriend overheard me singing it (yes, I was singing in the shower) and now she's really curious to know about the letter and Don Gato's fate. Thank goodness I found this thread!

Subject: RE: Senor Don Gato
From: GUEST,Jerry and Bev
Date: 19 Nov 00 - 06:35 PM

We did this song last week and a second grade girl broke into tears when Don Gato died. Bringing him back to life in the last verse didn't help much. You never know what effect a song will have on the listner.

Bev and Jerry

Subject: RE: Senor Don Gato
From: GUEST,Stewart
Date: 08 Mar 01 - 01:34 PM

This is really too much... My girlfriend & I were discussing grade school play experiences over a whiskey sourlast night & we both realized that we had both performed Don Gato as kids . . She remembered almost all the lyrics. She's 25, I'm 28 . . I did it in Hillsboro, VA circa '78 . . . Now I'm hell bent on working out a playable guitar/flamenco version . . The above chords are a good start, but don't sound quite right from what I remember . . .

Thanks!!

-Stewart King

Woodland Park, CO

Subject: Chords Add: DON GATO
From: Joe Offer
Date: 08 Mar 01 - 02:06 PM

I'd swear this is the most durable thread Mudcat has ever had. It's not the longest thread, but it's one that keep resurrecting every few months. Can anybody suggest a more sophisticated chords arrangement for Stewart? Let's see what I can glean from the Silver Burdett tesxtbook:

DON GATO

       Dmin     C      Dmin
Oh, Se-nor Don Ga - to was  a cat
     Dmin       C       Dmin
On a high, red roof Don Ga - to sat
        Dmin             D7                     Gmin
He went there to read a let - ter, meow, meow, meow,
          Gmin                 A7                     Dmin
Where the read - ing light was bet - ter, meow, meow, meow,
         A7               Dmin
'Twas a love note for Don Ga - to!

---

Stewart, if you'd like to send me your address by e-mail, I can e-mail or snailmail you a copy of the music from the textbook.

Joe Offer (click to e-mail)

Subject: RE: Senor Don Gato
From: MMario
Date: 08 Mar 01 - 02:20 PM

hey joe! Any chance mr scanner could e-mail me a copy of this? it's one of the "missing tunes"

Subject: RE: Senor Don Gato
From: Joe Offer
Date: 08 Mar 01 - 02:46 PM

Tune's up top in the thread, MMario. Already submitted.

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Senor Don Gato
From: MMario
Date: 08 Mar 01 - 03:31 PM

woops! missed it! Guess I'm going colour-blind now as well.

Subject: RE: Senor Don Gato
From: GUEST,J.D. Roberson
Date: 04 Apr 01 - 12:24 AM

While needlessing surfing, I ran across the link (below) to a Natalie Merchant Live Concert album from June, 1999. Among the song listing was "Senor Don Gato." I assume this is OUR Don Gato. Has anybody heard the recording?

http://www.rock-infodatenbank.de/live_in_concert_1735653.htm

J.D. Roberson

Subject: RE: Senor Don Gato
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 Apr 01 - 03:18 AM

Ah, the thread that never dies! JD, Click here for the U.S. version of the Natalie Merchant CD. No Don Gato, but some other cuts that look very interesting.
I did a Google Search (click) for "natalie merchant""don gato" and came up with quite a bit of information. Apparently, it IS the Don Gato we know, but it's on the DVD and not on the CD of the concert. The DVD also has a song called "Waterbound." I wonder if THAT's the one we know.
-Joe Offer-

---

Flash!

Click here for Natalie's lyrics. Yes, it IS the "Don Gato" we know, and also the "Waterbound" we know. Natalie Merchant has gone trad!
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Senor Don Gato
From: GUEST,J.D. Roberson
Date: 05 Apr 01 - 11:20 PM

Joe,

Thanks for the information. I will definitely search for a copy of Natalie's CD.

Yeah, we cannot let Don Gato this thread die!

J.D. Roberson

Subject: RE: Senor Don Gato
From: Luke
Date: 06 Apr 01 - 08:06 PM

I learned this song from my step daughter. She brought it home from school, knew it for many years befor she shared it with me a few years ago. It is a wonderful song. One of my favorites. I play it in a minor. But istead of going to G I play an e minor with a minor 7th thrown in to give the d required for the change. It makes it sound so very sexy and like Senior Don gato. It has become a required song to play for swing dancing at camp. Everyone dances and sings Meow Meow Moew as there dancing, it is so cool I love it.

Thanks for the reminder,

Luke

Subject: RE: Senor Don Gato
From: Bev and Jerry
Date: 07 Apr 01 - 12:30 AM

We did this song at a school this very day and, as usual, it was dynamite.

Bev and Jerry

Subject: RE: Senor Don Gato
From: GUEST
Date: 07 May 01 - 09:23 PM

Subject: RE: Senor Don Gato
From: SoloTheatre
Date: 25 Jun 01 - 05:38 PM

We learned this song in the 2nd grade in CT from a beautiful music teacher that we were all in love with named MS. Miller. At a post show Q&A I mentioned that i was looking for the music and words, by the time I got back from tour a nice teacher had sent it to me.

I last heard it being sung by a troup of street musicians in the 42nd street subway in Times Square during a hispanic day parade celebration

Subject: RE: Senor Don Gato
From: bobby's girl
Date: 26 Jun 01 - 01:44 PM

The majority of people who have said they learnt this song are American, but it was taught to my two girls(now 15 & 16) at Junior school here on Portland, Dorset, aged about 7 yrs. They have always loved it and taught it to two friends from Durham Folkworks earlier this year, so it may make an appearance at Folkworks this year.

Subject: RE: Senor Don Gato
From: GUEST,CorRed4
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 12:00 AM

Thank you for the lyrics i've been looking for them for some time. I knew the first 3 paragraphs to the song but couldn't remember the rest. I learned this song as a child in Tennessee at grade school. I also added my own music to the lyric, going by the melody I remember as a child. Again, Thanks alot!!!!!

Subject: RE: Senor Don Gato
From: GUEST,J.
Date: 01 Aug 01 - 12:54 PM

I'm shocked this is a real song! My girlfriend was singing it, and I thought she made the whole thing up. I had never heard it, and she forgot most of the lyrics. What she did remember, however, facinated me. I don't know why. I was able to find the song lyrics at the following site: http://sniff.numachi.com/~rickheit/dtrad/lookup.cgi?ti=DONGATO

Subject: RE: Senor Don Gato
From: GUEST,Melissa
Date: 17 Nov 01 - 03:36 PM

I swear I thought my husband had dreamed it. He woke up one morning telling me about a song he had learned in grade school at Brown Elemetary in Sweetwater, Tennesse. All he could rememeber was that the cat fell, broke his solar plexus and came back to life when he smelled fish. I thought he has dreamed it all- then low and behold - 5 years after the 1st posting - I find you guys. Apparently I owe his a big apology!! thank you guys for all the great info on this song.

Subject: RE: Senor Don Gato
From: Bev and Jerry
Date: 17 Nov 01 - 07:57 PM

Ahhhhh!

The thread that has nine lives comes back again.

Could this be the longest running thread on the Mudcat?

Bev and Jerry

Subject: RE: Senor Don Gato
From: masato sakurai
Date: 17 Nov 01 - 08:48 PM

Recording (mp3)of "El Senior Don Gato" in Spanish is HERE. ~Masato

Subject: RE: Senor Don Gato
From: GUEST,Melissa
Date: 17 Nov 01 - 11:28 PM

thank you for the mp3!!

Subject: RE: Senor Don Gato
From: GUEST,Eric
Date: 14 Jul 02 - 11:22 PM

I learned this song in grade school in St. Louis (around 1984), from Mrs. Gagnepain. We all loved it. My sister and I still sing it.

One day in college, I got the song in my head and started asking people if they knew it. As I was singing it for some dormmates, a guy walking past in the hallway chimed in "...and his little solar plexus, meow meow meow" and we both starting cracking up laughing.

That guy and I became friends after that. Last year he was the best man in my wedding.

And to think, without Don Gato we may never have met...

Subject: RE: Senor Don Gato
From: GUEST,Trina
Date: 12 Aug 02 - 10:30 AM

Wow, I was looking for the lyrics to one verse of Senor don Gato and stumbled upon this thread. Interestingly however, is th efact that with all these people who seem to know and love this song, I have never met any in person. As the mother of three, I have asked a lot of other moms and dads if they ever heard it, to no avail. I learned the song in NY in the 70's and now live in FL. I thought it was a regional thing, but I guess not. Does any body have a different chord suggestion for the song? The progression on here does not work too well and I would love to play it for my kids.

Subject: RE: Senor Don Gato
From: GUEST,Calico
Date: 12 Aug 02 - 03:14 PM

What a great song -- kind of a feline "Finnegan's Wake!"

Calico

  ^        ^
     @     @
 =  T  =
         w
 
 
 

Thanks for the MP3 link, Masato.

Subject: RE: Senor Don Gato
From:
Date: 17 Oct 02 - 10:05 PM

My son's class performed Don Gato as a mini opera in 1989,5th grade in Downers Grove, IL. For a few years he would perform it on request. Glad to see others care for it as I do.

Subject: RE: Senor Don Gato
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Oct 02 - 12:13 AM

Took a look at Google. Señor El Gato seems to have spread to all the European countries and Japan. The sources list it as traditional, northern Spain; no date. It truly is a great children's song.

Subject: RE: Senor Don Gato
From: GUEST,luxluxe
Date: 21 Oct 02 - 05:01 AM

I've been looking to the lyrics to this song for years! We sang it in grade school in Tennessee maybe as early as '68 or '69. Never could meet anyone else who could remember all the lyrics! Now I want it for my nephews. Thanks for all the info!

Subject: Lyr Add: El señor don Gato
From: masato sakurai
Date: 21 Oct 02 - 05:43 AM

El señor don Gato (from HERE)

Estaba el señor Don Gato
sentadito en su tejado
marramiau, miau, miau,
sentadito en su tejado.

Ha recibido una carta
por si quiere ser casado,
marramiau, miau, miau, miau,
por si quiere ser casado.

Con una gatita blanca
sobrina de un gato pardo,
marramiau, miau, miau, miau,
sobrina de un gato pardo.

El gato por ir a verla
se ha caído del tejado,
marramiau, miau, miau, miau,
se ha caído del tejado.

Se ha roto seis costillas
el espinazo y el rabo,
marramiau, miau, miau, miau,
el espinazo y el rabo.

Ya lo llevan a enterrar
por la calle del pescado,
marramiau, miau, miau, miau,
por la calle del pescado.

Al olor de las sardinas
el gato ha resucitado,
marramiau, miau, miau, miau,
el gato ha resucitado.

Por eso dice la gente
siete vidas tiene un gato,
marramiau, miau, miau, miau,
siete vidas tiene un gato.

~Masato

Subject: Lyr Add: ESTABA EL SEÑOR DON GATO
From: masato sakurai
Date: 21 Oct 02 - 05:51 AM

ESTABA EL SEÑOR DON GATO
(From HERE)

Re _____________ La7 Re
Estaba el Señor Don Gato
Sol __________ Re __
sentadito en su tejado,
miarramiaumiau miau miau
_____________ La7 Re
sentadito en su tejado.

Cuando le vinieron nuevas
que había de ser casado
miarramiaumiau miau miau
que había de ser casado.

Con una gatita parda
con una pinta en el rabo,
miarramiaumiau miau miau
con una pinta en el rabo.

El gato de la alegría
se ha caído del tejado,
miarramiaumiau miau miau
se ha caído del tejado.

Se ha roto siete costillas
y la puntilla del rabo,
miarramiaumiau miau miau
y la puntilla del rabo.

Le llevaron a enterrar
por la calle del pescado,
miarramiaumiau miau miau
por la calle del pescado.

Al olor de las sardinas
Don Gato ha resucitado
miarramiaumiau miau miau
Don Gato ha resucitado.

Subject: RE: Senor Don Gato
From: masato sakurai
Date: 21 Oct 02 - 06:03 AM

On the Spanish version:
"Mr Cat was sitting on his roof when he received a letter asking him if he wanted to be married to a white kitty, niece of a brown cat. Upon receiving this letter he fell off the roof... he has broken seven ribs the spine and the tail...they are taking him to be buried... going down the fish street, upon smelling the sardines Mr cat has revived and that is why people say a cat has seven lives. (in Spanish folklore it is only seven and not nine)" (from HERE)

THIS PAGE has a score & midi.

Subject: RE: Senor Don Gato
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 21 Nov 02 - 01:04 PM

WoW! This is unbelievable that so many people are brought together by "Don Gato"! I'm 30 as well, and one of my fondest childhood memories is riding in the camper of the back of our truck with my cousin singing me this song in the late 1970's. My mom picked up on it and sang it to me sometimes as well. My cousin had learned it in Spanish class in Nashville, Tennesse. She was five years older than me, and I never heard it from school, but then again I took French! I've heard fragments of it in my head over the years. I'm delighted that this little song has affected so many people and is not lost over time.
Long Live "Don Gato"!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Senor Don Gato
From: GUEST,Melissa in Kentucky
Date: 05 Dec 02 - 11:11 AM

We sang this song in 2nd and 3rd grade in Clarksville, Arkansas. I used to go home and sing it to my grandmother. A year or so ago she told my mom to ask me if I could remember the words. I couldn't, and I couldn't find anyone who knew it. I just happened to find this thread today and found the words. Maybe I can put it to the vague tune I have in my head. Thanks everyone for this being out here!!! My grandmother will be thrilled.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Senor Don Gato
From: Genie
Date: 05 Dec 02 - 01:50 PM

Masato, thanks so much for the link to the score and MIDI!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Senor Don Gato
From: GUEST,Lynneeo
Date: 06 Dec 02 - 02:42 PM

It has been 30 years since I heard this song-I can't believe I found it! I used to cry whenever my elementary school music teacher would play it! It didn't matter that he came back to life. I couldn't stand it that he fell off the roof and died! My classmates made merciless fun of me!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Senor Don Gato
From: 4catfem
Date: 10 Dec 02 - 10:36 PM

I ABSOLUTELY can not believe I found the lyrics to Senor Don Gato!!! I am 34 years old and learned the song in Elementary School in Bangor, Maine back in the 70's. I am a e-9-1-1 dispatcher and in down times, to relieve stress, we sing and goof around. I got to singing this song one day and have not lived it down since. NO ONE believed me that it was a real song. Now I have PROOF!!!
Thanks a MILLION!!!!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Senor Don Gato
From: GUEST,Iris
Date: 12 Dec 02 - 06:12 AM

Oh my gawd!! I thought I was out of my mind for even *thinking* this song existed!! I've never met anyone else that knew of it.

I was home schooled, so it figures I wouldn't have learned it at elementery school. Like someone else up there, can't find the comment now, I heard it off a recored called The Lion Sleeps Tonight, somewhere around '77 or '78. It was sung in a strange Flamanco style and the singer had the most awful fake accent... but it was brilliant!! I completely loved it!

Thanks for proving I'm not nuts. I just won five bucks from my partner!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Senor Don Gato
From:
Date: 14 Dec 02 - 10:46 AM

Wow!!! I'm glad I'm not the only person who had this tune stuck in their head for 30 years!!! I, too, remember this tune from 2nd grade... Mrs. Firckle, music teacher, taught it to us. I was so sad when Don Gato died that I cried in the middle of class! I know he comes back to life at the end, but I was too deep in grief to cheer up again! Pretty funny.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Senor Don Gato
From: GUEST,Leslie
Date: 18 Dec 02 - 01:49 PM

I am 40 years old and learned this song in elementary school in Wilmington, Delaware. For the first time in years, my three sisters and I were all together for Thanskgiving this past November. For some reason, during our wander down memory lane, this song came up. We tried and tried to piece together all of the lyrics. We remembered just enough to peak my 5-year old niece's interest, but couldn't come up with the whole thing. Now, thanks to this long-running thread, I can send them the full lyrics! Thank you all!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Senor Don Gato
From: GUEST,Susan
Date: 05 Jan 03 - 01:05 AM

I have been sitting here having a blast reading what everyone has written about Senior Don Gato. I learned it in 3rd grade (1968) when my family moved to Frisco Colorado. The kids in my class had been singing it since kindergarten. Over the years I've had that wonderfully crazy tune in my head trying to remember all the words. A couple nights ago I tried to write them all down without luck so I thought I'd give the internet a shot not expecting much. Wow, I just couldn't believe all the Don Gato fans. This is great. I had the same teacher all through elementry and high school, everyone called her Mrs."A" or "mom". We always sang Don Gato, especially on Fridays. Even when we were in high school, she'd break into Senior Don Gato every once in awhile and all of us that grew up there would follow lead, leaving the newer students wondering what was going on. Oh what great memories. Thanks you guys.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Senor Don Gato
From:
Date: 27 Jun 03 - 12:20 AM

I, too have been looking for the lyrics for years and years and I never met anyone who remembered this song. Before the internet, I even stopped by a few elementary schools to see if the music teachers knew of the song, without luck (but not without a few funny looks---"A children's song about a cat who reads a love letter on a roof, falls off, then is resurrected by the smell of fish? Riiiiiight.").

I learned the song in a Kentucky elementary school around 1970. It not only affected me every time Don Gato tragically fell and miraculously rose, it instilled in me a love for music and its power over us. Just think how a rising chorus of human voices can make you weep! How exhilarating to hear live music! All that started for me with Don Gato. Look at us all and what an impression Don Gato has made! Amazing!

Thank you so very kindly. Now I can sing the ENTIRE saga in the shower. :o)

Subject: RE: Senor Don Gato
From: GUEST,Anne Jackson
Date: 03 Jul 03 - 12:10 PM

I am so glad to find the lyrics!!! Surprisingly, I remembered the entire song but I had his name wrong, I was calling him Senior Grangato! I was in 3rd grade in Cleveland, Ohio, and just like another Don Gato fan, I have asked people all of the time (those that did not attent the same elementary school as I did)if they've ever heard of it and...NOT!

Thanks to Google.com, all I had to key in was, "lyrics to a song about a cat on a high red roof"!

It's interesting to know that there are many who love this song too!

Subject: RE: Senor Don Gato
From: GUEST,Bo in KY
Date: 03 Jul 03 - 11:52 PM

There must have been an amazing network of elementary school music teachers in the seventies from the looks of this thread. I learned it, in 3rd or 4th grade, in Cincinnati around '73-'74. As I remember, the tempo slows way down on the "in spite of everything they tried" verse until it picks up with "he became re-animated". The tune is as evocative for me as it apparently is for many. I always thought it had an "exotic" feel to it, but then, I was in 3rd grade, in the bowels of suburbia ...

Y'all have inspired me to work it up on the guitar and sing it for the kids - it may twist their minds a little. I'm sure Don Gato will live on in the next generation - he's nowhere near his 7th life (let alone his 9th!)

Shalom,

Bo

Subject: RE: Senor Don Gato
From: GUEST,Steve
Date: 07 Jul 03 - 04:56 AM

I too learned this song in the South Florida public school system in the early to mid 70's.

Steve

Subject: RE: Senor Don Gato
From: GUEST,Marsha
Date: 09 Jul 03 - 08:19 PM

This is so amazing! I love google for bringing me to this thread about our lovely friend, El senor Don Gato!!! I learned it in about 3rd grade (circa 1976ish) in Philadelphia.

It was my absolute FAVORITE song ever in school. Interestingly enough, I went to a Natalie Merchant concert about 2 years ago or so where she sang it. I WENT WILD!!!! I was so excited (I hadn't thought about this song in years.) My boyfriend thought I was on drugs, and like mostly everyone else there had never ever heard it before. I think I was the only person in our section of the concert hall singing along.

I'm going on a road trip with my 6 yr old and 9 yr old nieces a couple weeks from now, and I can hardly wait to teach them!!

Long live Don Gato!!

Subject: RE: Senor Don Gato
From: marthabees
Date: 09 Jul 03 - 10:02 PM

Okay - here is the definitive version of Don Gato.

Silver Burdett published "Making Music Your Own", an elementary music series, copyright about 1964. The third grade volume -it's orange -included "Senor Don Gato."   If anybody wants to know, I can find the book and look. I know - I taught the thing! It was a smash hit then and kids today (Yes, I'm still teaching....) still love it. I have a great rendition I do for the kids - very funny, if I say so myself.

The next few series abandoned the song, much to the chagrin of a lot of us who knew what a hit it was. And NOW it's back in some of the modern series, along with the Spanish version!

It is just credited as a Mexican folk song. Sorry, no more info than that.

Anyway, when I see kids - now grownups - who remember me, they almost to a person say "I'll always remember that song about the cat, Don Gato." And all of the input on this thread corroborates that experience.

If anybody wants me to scan the original book and send them a .jpg of the score with the picture of the cat knocked silly, just PM me and I'll do it. It includes chords, but not a fully-realized accompaniment.

Martha in Tallahassee
one of the handful of National Board Certified Music Teachers north Florida, by the way

Subject: RE: Senor Don Gato
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Jul 03 - 10:44 PM

Say, Martha - I wonder when Silver Burdett promoted the song to FOURTH grade. I have a Silver Burdett textbook titled Music Now and Long Ago, copyright 1956. It has three stars on its spine, so I imagine it's for third grade. I have most of the 1956 series, but not fourth grade. I do have a "Centennial Edition" of Silver Burdett Music, copyright 1985, and it has four dots on the spine - and it has "Don Gato" in it, in English only.
Anybody know the title of the Fourth Grade book in the 1956 series, and does it have "Don Gato"? When was the next series published?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Senor Don Gato
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 10 Jul 03 - 06:38 AM

This thread is amazing. Senor Don Gato will never die!
(wonder how this song would sound on the ukulele??)