Where is my kitty? I love that horrible song (poem). So glad I could find it here. When I tell people about it, they don't believe me.
My grandmother used to sing this song to me and my brother (I was born in 1947). I remember the tune, at least how she sang it. I would love to hear someone else's version sung.
Her version ended with the child finding the kitten drowned.
She sang it so sweetly and sadly, mournfully, which was plenty of warning, but the end was still shocking. Then she would laugh. It tickled her to frighten us a little.
My grandmother was born in 1898 in Missouri. Her early ancestors were from Germany, however her family had been in north America since 1706, so she was no way German, but raised a Southern lady. She didn't cook German foods or have any German traditions, but maybe this song was a remnant of her German heritage.
Her maiden's name was Goodnight, but when her early ancestors arrived in America their name was Gutknecht.
Thanks for the history of the song and versions.
Mike T.
I forgot to add, that this photo was on the wall above my grandmother as she sang the Kitty song, which added to the drama.
Yes, I listened to the song, right after I sent my email.
Yep, that's it. Although my grandmother sang with a slightly more emotion, slower, sadder.
I believe those are the exact words too....
So glad I found your website. I will share it with my brother. Great memories.
I have shared the story of my grandmother and the song she would sing to us, with friends, over the years to shock them. Poems, songs and fairy tales got very tame over the centuries.
Have you ever read the origin and original versions of fairy tales? YIKES! They are not like the Disney versions.
Thanks.
Mike T.