Song Video
Lyrics
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!
Information About Senor Don Gato (Was a Cat)
"Senor Don Gato" is a children's song based on a traditional Spanish song called "Estaba el senor Don Gato '. The lyrics are translated loosely from the Spanish but the melody comes from another Spanish song "Ahora Que Vamos Despacio".
The song tells the story of a Mexican cat who is ecstatic after knowing that his true love has agreed to marry him. While celebrating his happiness he stumbles off the roof and dies as a result of his injuries. During his funeral the cat is brought back to life by the scent of fish from the market.
The song is also known by it's English title "Lord Tom Cat".
"Though his burial was skated" is another line that can be included with the lyrics.
Copyright by Lisa Yannucci.
Alternative Lyrics & Related Songs
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 caÃdo del tejado,
marramiau, miau, miau, miau,
se ha caÃdo 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".