Senor Don Gato is a song that tells us all about a cat of the same name who goes up to the roof to read a love letter he has been sent. Sadly, the cat falls off the roof and the doctors come running but they cannot save the cat who unfortunately dies. During his funeral, there is a strong scent of fish in the air that miraculously wakes the cat from death.
The rhyme is very popular in America where it is used to teach basic musical notes and has links to Spanish as it is said to be based upon a Spanish dong that is called Estaba el Senor Don Gato.
In British nursery rhymes, the storyline of Don Gato is more closely linked to Humpty Dumpty, an egg that falls from a wall and cracks. The rhyme of Don Gato has spread around the world thanks to its inclusion in popular culture references. In France, the rhyme is known simply as Monsieur le Chat.
Senor Don Gato 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 lady cat,
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 cemetery,
Meow, meow, meow!
For the ending of Don Gato.
But as the funeral passed the market square,
Such a smell of fish was in the air,
Though the burial was slated,
Meow, meow, meow!
He became reanimated,
Meow, meow, meow!
He came back to life, Don Gato!