Origins: Senor Don Gato

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,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: 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:
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:
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
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,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: 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: 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: 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: 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,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: 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: 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,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: 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
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: 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,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: 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: 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: 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,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: GUEST
Date: 15 Oct 04 - 10:36 PM

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 ca&#ído 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,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:
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,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,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,David
Date: 11 Sep 04 - 06:46 PM

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,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: 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: 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

---

You can reach it from this page (click), Q.
-Joe Offer-

---

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.

El gato, con la alegría,
subió a bailar al tejado;
mas con un palo le dieron,
y rodando vino abajo.

Se rompió siete costillas
y la puntita del rabo.

Llamaron a los médicos,
doctores y cirujanos;
mataron siete gallinas
y le dieron de un caldo.

Lo llevaron a enterrar
al pobrecito don gato
y lo llevaron en hombros
cuatro gatos colorados.

Sobre la cajita iban
siete ratones bailando
al ver que se había muerto
su enemigo más malo.

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: 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 - 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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,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: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 05 May 04 - 12:03 PM

All right! I give in! I'm crying "uncle"!

After 10 Don Gato-free years, I'm teaching this song to my students this week!

I'll let you know how it goes...

Allison

Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato
From: GUEST,ZTex
Date: 27 Apr 04 - 10:05 PM

Well,

I went looking for Don Gato out of pure couriosity because the boys in our Scout troop sing a version of it on Campouts! WOW and I thought they made it up!

Whoduthunkit!

Cool

Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Apr 04 - 12:18 AM

I cannot believe how many people have heard this song. I've been trying to remember the lyrics for about 33 years, i knew the story but couldn't quite put the verses together. Every now and then it comes in to mind and I'm singing im my heaed. I first heard this song in 2nd or 3rd grade in New York and have been telling my kids and husband about it. of course they think i'm crazy, now I can show them this!!
Thanks for posting

Subject: Senor Don Gato
From:
Date: 17 Apr 04 - 04:47 PM

I heard Senor Don Gato once - 12 years ago - in the Haight Ashbery SF Public Library on a Folkways [I think] disc that was so scratched that it was almost unplayable. I never wrote down who the singer was.

I took it home and taped it and - of course - I love it. I guess that anyone reading this thread won't be surprised.

I was living in San Francisco and soon after returned home to England. I now live in London and am very happy to be reading about the love that people have for the song. Nobody in England [except my daughter & I] knows of it.

I love the idea that it is in the library right opposite the houses that Jefferson Airplane & The Grateful Dead used to live in.

Now that I have the chords I will play it to her on my Ukulele.

Best wishes & thanks to all contributors.

Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 08:38 PM

The Sephardic Jewish origin of Don Gato has been mentioned in a previous posting.
At this web site given below are reproduced all of the versions so far found and incorporated in the Archive of Sephardic Folk Literature (in Spanish).

There are versions from all of the countries of Latin America, the state of New Mexico, Spain and Morocco. Versions may vary from town to town and area to area; they are all given here.

A truly amazing compilation, with references.
http://www.sephardifolklit.org/flsj/explore/searchBallads1.html?amp=W1

The website is a comprehensive archive of the folk literature of Sephardic Jews. The Home Page is:
Sephardic Folk Literature

Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 07:27 PM

Manders' "Senor Don Gato," Candlewick Press, has sheet music at the end. The book in hard cover is on sale at Amazon for $11.19.

Subject: RE: Origins: Senor Don Gato
From: ranger1
Date: 14 Apr 04 - 03:15 PM

I'd forgotten all about this song until I happened across this thread. I learned it it 3rd grade in Enfield, NH, but not from the music teacher. Our 3rd grade teacher caught on quick that our music teacher was an absolutely horrible person and most of us were actually dreading going to music class every week. Mr. Downall started teaching us songs in our classroom to keep music a good experience. Don Gato was one, and we also learned a couple about foxes, one of which was in German. I hadn't thought about Don Gato in years, but as soon as I saw the thread, all the words and the tune came back.