Senor Don Gato (Was a Cat)
Song Lyrics & Words
O Senor Don Gato was a cat.
On a high red roof Don Gato sat.
He was there to read a letter,
(meow, meow, meow)
where the reading light was better,
(meow, meow, meow)
'Twas a love-note for Don Gato!
"I adore you," wrote the ladycat,
who was fluffy white, and nice and fat.
There was not a sweeter kitty,
(meow, meow, meow)
in the country or the city
(meow, meow, meow)
and she said she'd wed Don Gato!
O Senor Don Gato jumped with glee!
He fell off the roof and broke his knee,
broke his ribs and all his whiskers,
(meow, meow, meow)
and his little solar plexus
(meow, meow, meow)
"Ay Caramba!!" cried Don Gato.
All the doctors they came on the run,
just to see if something could be done.
And they held a consultation,
(meow, meow, meow)
about how to save their patient,
(meow, meow, meow)
how to save Senor Don Gato.
But in spite of everything they tried,
poor Senor Don Gato up and died.
No, it wasn't very merry,
(meow, meow, meow)
going to the cemetary,
(meow, meow, meow)
for the ending of Don Gato.
But as the the funeral passed the market square,
such a smell of fish was in the air,
though the burial was plated,
(meow, meow, meow)
he became reanimated,
(meow, meow, meow)
he came back to life, Don Gato!
Alternative Lyrics & Words
A spanish version called "El señor don Gato"
Estaba el señor Don Gato
sentadito en su tejado
marramiau miau, 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".
The English version is called "Lord Tom Cat"
Lord Tom Cat was Sitting on his roof
Marrameow meow meow meow
Sitting on his roof.
He received a letter
Asking if he wants to get married
Marrameow meow meow meow
Asking if he wants to get married.
With a white kitty
Niece of a brown cat
Marrameow meow meow meow
Niece of a brown cat.
As the cat went to visit her
He fell down from the roof
Marrameow meow meow meow
He fell down from the roof.
He broke six ribs
His spine and his tail
Marrameow meow meow meow
His spine and his tail.
He's taken to be buried
Through the fish street
Marrameow meow meow meow
Through the fish street.
Smelling some sardines
The cat resuscitated
Marrameow meow meow meow
The cat resuscitated.
That's why people say
"A cat has seven lives"
Marrameow meow meow meow
"A cat has seven lives".
Information About This Song
Copyright ©2008 by Lisa Yannucci "Though his burial was SLATED" is another line that can be included with the lyrics. Kids have been known to be singing this song ever since the Silver-Burdette company printed it in 1965.Watch a Video of the Song
Listen to the Music of the Song
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Comments (15)
By Bob in Springfield Il on 8 January 2009
love it sang it in 3rd grade and still sing to familey & friends i will be 50 in may
By Anne in Calhoun, Ga, Usa on 27 February 2009
I remember this song from elementary school in the '60's. I was thrilled to find the lyrics. What a cute video too!
By Rachel in Okeechobee Fl on 7 March 2009
I grew up in New Mexico, and we use to sing this song in Music class. Everybody loved this song it was so much fun to sing! I haven't heard this song in13 years.
By Breuy in Brayant on 11 March 2009
I thought there was no English way of singing it!It sounds so weird in English
By Michelle in Washington on 14 March 2009
We sang this song as kids on our school bus. It was the only song that the whole busload of kids would sing together, at the top of our lungs! Now I can teach it to my own kids.....
By Stella in Novato, Ca, Usa on 24 March 2009
I learned this song, Senor Don Gato, in elementary school in the 60's. It came to mind when asked to bring a kitty song to a friend's birthday & 'name and welcome the new kitty' party. How puurfect that the song is about the consequence of being overly excited about a new love but then grace abound when revived by the smell of food! Oh, we humans! I sang it for the group and even won a prize for the best song! P.S. I love this website. My home/work takes in kids and I will use this site again!
By Kirsty in Scotland on 24 March 2009
our class was doing a mexicon feam in 2009 and we sang this song and played instruments to go along with it
By Lala in Denver, Usa on 26 March 2009
I found a homeless kitten in a predominantly Mexican neighborhood and couldn't resist naming him after one of my favorite childhood songs: Don Gato.
By Yolanda Ybarra in Dallas, Tx on 21 April 2009
I remember this song when I was in the 7th grade in the 80's. I tried to sing it w/my teenage daughter (being silly) and couldn't remember the words. Thanks! Now I can sing it to her. LOL!
By Alexis in Atlanta, Ga on 30 April 2009
I used to sing this song as a child in the 70's and now my 6 year old daughter came home singing it with a drawing of Don Gato! It brought back fond and funny memories of this wonderful song.
By Nikki in East Stroudsburg on 2 May 2009
I learned this song in grammar school and taught it to my children who will teach it to their own children. Its a classic and it is so nice to see it alive and well in 2009
By Timtam in Denver, Usa on 5 May 2009
My mom used to sing this to me when I was a baby and it always made me happy because I love cats. Now I sing it to my cat when i feel he deserves it!
By Jasmine in Benicia,california on 2 June 2009
I sang don gato in my shcool play.
By Byron in New York on 24 July 2009
I learn about this song when i was 5 in Colombia in Spanish. Now 36 i re-learn it in Enlglish ans i will teach to my 7 years old son.
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By Sheryl R in Copperas Cove Tx Usa on 3 December 2008
I LOVE THIS SONG! I decided to become a nurse to help patients with broken bones like beloved Senor Don Gato! I have this song as my ringtonee-thanks for the memories!