Lyr Req: Daddy's Little Tomboy Girl (Roden, Helf)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Daddy's Little Tomboy Girl (Roden, Helf)
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Feb 22 - 08:42 PM

Thank you for the link to YouTube. I just now rechecked this post and saw it. It is awesome seeing all these other people with the same memories as me.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Daddy's Little Tomboy Girl (Roden, Helf)
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Jan 22 - 11:37 AM

I've been trying to find this song and remembered only a few words. But it was enough and my daughter found this post. She found it in an instant and I tried for years. My grandfather would sing it to me and that would be back in the late 50's - 60's

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Poor Little Kate? / Daddy's Little Tomboy
From: Mo the caller
Date: 03 Jan 20 - 02:20 PM

Nearly 5 years late, but I remember K-K-K-Katy.
My mother's name was Kathleen and at Christmas (in the 50s) we sang a song for everyone round the tea-table at Grandma's. That was the song they sang for her.
K K K Katy
Beautiful Katy
Your the only little girl that I adore
When the M m m moon shines
on the C C C cow shed
I'll be waiting at the K k k kitchen door.

I think there is a thread about it already.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Poor Little Kate? / Daddy's Little Tomboy
From: GUEST,Judy Nielsen M.
Date: 01 Jan 20 - 12:24 AM

Here is the recording! https://youtu.be/xBZDv50Fjwk

My grandfather who was born in 1888 sang and preformed for dances. He sang this to my mother and she sang it to me. I just sang it to my granddaughter tonight. So sweet.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Poor Little Kate? / Daddy's Little Tomboy
From: GUEST,GG
Date: 12 Aug 15 - 10:43 AM

I remember this song from when I was a girl some 80 years ago.
Poor little Kate, swingin' on a gate
Lonesome and feelin' blue
Girls passing by, hear Katie cry
"please let me play with you"
They answer "No"
She asks them "Why?"
You're a tomboy girl, that's why
With a heart so sad, she tells her old Dad
He says "Katie dear, don't you cry
You are Dad's little darlin, you are Dad's little child
For there never was a mother to curl your hair,
Daddy's little tomboy girl.

That is how I remember it. I have a granddaughter named Kate. She is an all around girl. This song does not describe her..."K-K-K Katy" is more like it. Do you know that one? Published in 1917

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Poor Little Kate? / Daddy's Little Tomboy
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Mar 14 - 03:47 AM

My grandmother, born in 1917 said her mother used to sing it to her. The worss are close, but not quite. I wld love to hear the tune be aise the words at the end dont seem to fit quite right. Btw, my grandma turned 97 this year and can still sing this song to the same tune we've all had it sung to us. I was honored to have her mom, my great-grandma sing it to me when i was young. I am amazed to find so much information about this song from my memory!
To all those who remember poor little kate, love is forever!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Poor Little Kate? / Daddy's Little Tomboy
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Feb 13 - 03:52 PM

My father who died 40 years ago always sang Poor Little Kate to his 3 daughters.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Poor Little Kate? / Daddy's Little Tomboy
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 18 May 12 - 01:54 PM

Syracuse University has the record in its library but it isn't downloadable online.

http://summit.syr.edu/vwebv/holdingsInfo?bibId=1610772

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Poor Little Kate? / Daddy's Little Tomboy
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 17 May 12 - 06:08 PM

This is still in the unanswered list in the Quick Links drop-down: Unanswered Requests and I don't see it in the answered.


Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Poor Little Kate? / Daddy's Little Tomboy
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Feb 12 - 09:54 PM

So fun to find this, although the lyrics are slightly different from what I learned and I didn't know there was a second verse. I am told that my grandmother was one of the local people to sing this in a touring vaudeville-type show, and that would have been some hundred or so years ago. I know the tune I learned, but didn't know it was published.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Poor Little Kate? / Daddy's Little Tomboy
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Feb 12 - 09:35 PM

Hello, I am Stella Tobin's great-niece Cassie and have been looking for a recording of this song... do any of you know where I can find a copy? Our family is trying to collect her music. Thank you!

[e-mail]

Subject: Lyr Add: DADDY'S LITTLE TOM-BOY GIRL (Roden/Helf)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 15 Jan 12 - 08:09 PM

You can see the sheet music at Indiana University:

(The key to finding this was realizing that "Tom-boy" might be hyphenated!)


DADDY'S LITTLE TOM-BOY GIRL.
Words by Robert F Roden; music by J Fred Helf
New York: Helf & Hager Inc, 1908.

1. Poor little Kate swings on the gate,
Lonesome and feeling blue.
Girls passing by hear Katie cry,
"Please let me play with you."
Girls turn to go; they answer, "No,
You're a Tom-boy girl; that's why."
With heart so sad, she tells her dad.
He says, "Dearie don't you sigh.

CHORUS: "You will always be daddy's best girlie.
You will always be daddy's best chum.
We were pals in the days of old, dear.
We'll be pals in the years to come;
For you've ne'er had a mother to guide you,
To put your dear hair in a curl,
And there ain't another girlie in the world like you,
Daddy's little Tom-boy girl."

2. "Katie, don't cry; I'll tell you why
Girls call you 'Tom-boy,' dear.
No chums you've had, only your dad,
No other playmate near.
Were mamma here, your life to cheer,
Your heart would know naught but joy;
But don't be sad, for your old dad,
Is proud of his dear Tom-boy. CHORUS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Poor Little Kate? / Daddy's Little Tomboy
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 24 Jan 11 - 07:36 AM

More information:

DADDY'S LITTLE TOMBOY GIRL was recorded on an Edison cylinder by Stella Tobin in 1908.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Poor Little Kate? / Daddy's Little Tomboy
From: GUEST,Jennifer
Date: 19 Jan 11 - 11:50 PM

Poor Little Kate, sits by the gate lonesome and feeling blue,
girls passing by, hear Katie cry oh won't you let me play with you?
Girls turn to go, they answer no, you're a tomboy girl thats why.
With heart so sad, she tells her dad, "You've always been daddy's best girlie, you've always been daddy's best chum, in the days of old and new dear, and the many years to come, you've ner had a mother to guide you or to put your dear hair in a curl, but you're the best little girl in the wide wide world, daddy's little tomboy girl.


My grandmother and mother used to sing this song. Hope it is the one you were looking for.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Poor Little Kate
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 13 Apr 10 - 08:55 PM

It's in the catalog of the US Copyright office, but that's all I was able to find.

Subject: RE: Poor Little Kate
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 12 Apr 10 - 11:14 AM

I have found references to a song called DADDY'S LITTLE TOMBOY GIRL, with words by Robert F. Roden and music by J. Fred Helf, published around 1908.

I will keep looking.

Subject: RE: Poor Little Kate
From: GUEST,PJ
Date: 30 Mar 10 - 10:04 AM

I also am looking for this song that my grandmother and mother sang to me.
Poor little Kate
Swings on a gate
Lonesome and feeling blue
Girls passing by
Hear Katie cry
Won't you let me play with you
Girls turn to go
They answer no
You're a tomboy girl that's why
Kate's heart is sad
She tells her dad
He says Dearie, don't you cry
Cause you never had a mother to love you
Or put your dear hair in a curl
But there's not another girlie in the whole wide world
Like daddy's little tomboy girl.

I think i may be missing words here and there. The tune is what I'd really like to get ahold of. It seems like it kind of varied each time it was sung to me.

Subject: RE: Poor Little Kate
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 24 Dec 00 - 08:16 AM

Not a group, though the name wouldn't be a bad one for a group. Peter and Iona Opie are/were academics who collected playground songs and nursery rhymes and published a number of books, and amassed a vast collection relating to childrens play and literature. The People in the Playground is just one.

Children's Games in Street and Playground is perhaps the one that would be most likely to have Little Kate. (My wife says she's sure it must be a skipping or maybe a counting-out rhyme.)

Subject: RE: Poor Little Kate
From: GUEST,Atriema
Date: 24 Dec 00 - 03:20 AM

McGrath,I feel so ridiculous asking this but can you please tell me what the Opie's are. I am assuming they are a musical group. I tried to do an internet search for Opies and for The People in the Playground but came up with nothing. Thanks so much for all your help. Tiffany

Subject: RE: Poor Little Kate
From: GUEST,Atriema
Date: 24 Dec 00 - 02:56 AM

Thanks McGrath, I am not very good at putting it how it suppose to be musically but you did a great job. Sounds pretty much like you have typed it. I will try and see what I can find about Opie. Thanks again!

Subject: RE: Poor Little Kate
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 19 Dec 00 - 04:02 PM

I'd have thought the lines would have to be more like I've put them here, to scan and for the rhyme. It sounds like it might be a skipping rhyme or something like that. Anybody got a copy of some of the books by the Opie's (eg The People in the Playground)to see if a version is in there?

Poor little Kate swinging on a gate
feeling so lonesome and blue.
Girls pass by hear Katie cry
"Oh can I play with you?"
They turn to go,
They answer "No
You're a tomboy girl that's why."

Subject: RE: Poor Little Kate
From: GUEST,Atriema
Date: 19 Dec 00 - 12:02 AM

Paddymac, thanks. checked it out and its not the same song but... your right the melody is about the same. And Sorch thanks to you too, I will check into that and see what I can find. Thanks to the both of you!!!

Subject: RE: Poor Little Kate
From: Sorcha
Date: 18 Dec 00 - 06:06 PM

Found references to "poor little Kate" in a Sherlock Holmes mystery "The Man with the Twisted Lip" and Swinging on a Gate fiddle tune. Nothing else. Sorry.

Subject: RE: Poor Little Kate
From: paddymac
Date: 18 Dec 00 - 01:11 PM

Guest Atriema - sometimes a suggestion as to melody can help jog somebody's memory. I don't think I consciously ever heard this song, but when I read what lyrics you posted, I started humming "The Whiffenpoof Song". Seems to fit, but, then, maybe it's just a brain fart. Good luck. If there's help to be had anywhere, it's likely here.

Subject: Poor Little Kate
From:
Date: 17 Dec 00 - 07:28 PM

Hello, I am looking for a song my grandmother use to sing to me back in the 70's, may be much older though I am not sure. Some of the words are

poor little Kate swinging on a gate
feeling so lonesome and blue
girls passing by hear Katie cry
oh won't you play with me
they turn to go they answer no
you're a tomboy girl that's why

This song has been very elusive. My grandmother died 2 years ago so can no longer ask her. But would love to find it to make a file in her name.

Thanks so much, I appreciate your time!

P.S. there was also one about a blind girl but all I know is that much, if I had some lyrics my mom might recognize it. Thanks again!