K-K-K-Katy: Difference between revisions

"K-K-K-Katy"
"K-K-K-Katy"
	Sheet music cover
Song
Songwriter(s)	Geoffrey O'Hara

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"K-K-K-Katy" is a World War I-era song written by Canadian-American composer Geoffrey O'Hara in 1917 and published in 1918. The sheet music advertised it as "The Sensational Stammering Song Success Sung by the Soldiers and Sailors", as well as "The Sensational New Stammering Song"^[1] The song was first played at a garden party fund-raiser for the Red Cross in Collins Bay on Lake Ontario. O'Hara was from Chatham, Ontario, and taught music at several universities.

The lyrics tell of a brave but stuttering soldier called Jimmy who is lovesick over the beautiful Katy. He buys a wedding ring before going to fight in France. The inspiration for the "Katy" of the song was Katherine Craig Richardson of Kingston, Ontario. She was a friend of O'Hara's sister, and her parents recall O'Hara writing the song in their living room.^[2]^{[dubious – discuss]}

K-K-K-Katy

Performed by Billy Murray recorded in 1918

Problems playing this file? See media help.

Chorus

K-K-K-Katy, beautiful Katy

You're the only g-g-g-girl that I adore

When the M-M-M-Moon shines over the cowshed

I'll be waiting at the k-k-k-kitchen door.

Early performances and commercial success

"K-K-K-Katy" was a top 20 song from May 1918 to January 1919 and was number 1 from July to September.^[3] It was recorded by Billy Murray on March 8, 1918 and released on Victor 18455.^{[citation needed]} Eugene Buckley also recorded a version of the song.^[3] The sheet music was heavily reprinted.^[3] A version titled "K-K-K-Klanswoman," with altered lyrics, was published in a "Song Book For Women of the Ku Klux Klan," c.1924.^[4]^[5] In the late 60s, Mad Magazine had a version called "ca-ca-ca-cooties". A Second World War official Army song book had a song "K-k-k-K.P."

The song made a comeback during World War II, when songs from World War I became popular at military training camps. "K-K-K-Katy" was one of many songs brought to the front by officers who had heard this song while on leave in England. Older songs such as "K-K-K-Katy" were often preferred over modern songs.^[6]

The song was covered by Mel Blanc in his Porky Pig voice in 1949, with some vocalists backing him. The song can be heard on the compilation album Mel Blanc: The Man of 1000 Voices 2007.^{[citation needed]} Bing Crosby included the song in a medley on his album Join Bing and Sing Along (1959)

Later performances and parodies

The song was the basis of a parody which ridiculed the Ku Klux Klan,^[7] a white supremacist organization in the United States often referred to by its acronym, KKK.

Additionally, the political-humor group Capitol Steps performed a parody of this song entitled "K-K-Kuwaitis", about the 1990 invasion of Kuwait which began the Gulf War. The song was released on their 1990 album Sheik, Rattle & Roll!^[8]

The "Yriekay" movement of P.D.Q. Bach's Missa Hilarious includes a section with the text "K-K-K-Kyrie eleison", in reference to this song.^[9]

Bradford Dillman's character in The Way We Were heckles Barbra Streisand's character, Young Communist League member Katie Morosky, with "K-K-K-Katie, be my K-K-K-Comrade" in a pre-World War II campus peace rally during the 1973 film.

References

^ Pelger, Martin (2014). Soldiers' Songs and Slang of the Great War. New York: Osprey Publishing. p. 277. ISBN 978-1-4728-0415-0.
^ Furia, Philip; Lasser, Michael (2006). America's Songs: The Stories Behind the Songs of Broadway, Hollywood, and Tin Pan Alley. New York: Routledge. pp. 20–21. ISBN 978-0-415-97246-8.
^ ^a ^b ^c Paas, John Roger 2014. America Sings of War: American Sheet Music from World War I. Harrassowitz Verlag. pg 218, ISBN 978-3-447-10278-0#
^ Song Book for Women of the Ku Klux Klan (Incorporated). Pittsburg, Pennsylvania: MacVay Printing Co. c. 1924. p. 21.
^ O. Crew, Danny (2003). Ku Klux Klan Sheet Music: An Illustrated Catalogue of Published Music, 1867-2002. Jefferson, North Carolina: MacFarland & Company, Inc. p. 145.
^ Smith, Kathleen E. R. (2003). God Bless America: Tin Pan Alley Goes to War. Lexington: The University Press of Kentucky. p. 99. ISBN 0-8131-2256-2.
^ Who Killed Jimmy Dammit? (Lulu, 2011), pg. 58
^ Capitol Steps (Comedy troupe). Sheik, Rattle & Roll! Alexandria, VA: Capitol Steps Productions, 1990. OCLC 24499263
^ Crutchfield, Will (December 30, 1984). "Music: P.D.Q. Bach, With Peter Schickele". New York Times. Retrieved January 13, 2017.

Who Wrote that Song Dick Jacobs & Harriet Jacobs, published by Writer's Digest Books, 1993

External links

[1] Pelger, Martin (2014). Soldiers' Songs and Slang of the Great War. New York: Osprey Publishing. p. 277. ISBN 978-1-4728-0415-0.

[2] Furia, Philip; Lasser, Michael (2006). America's Songs: The Stories Behind the Songs of Broadway, Hollywood, and Tin Pan Alley. New York: Routledge. pp. 20–21. ISBN 978-0-415-97246-8.

[auto-3] Paas, John Roger 2014. America Sings of War: American Sheet Music from World War I. Harrassowitz Verlag. pg 218, ISBN 978-3-447-10278-0#

[4] Song Book for Women of the Ku Klux Klan (Incorporated). Pittsburg, Pennsylvania: MacVay Printing Co. c. 1924. p. 21.

[5] O. Crew, Danny (2003). Ku Klux Klan Sheet Music: An Illustrated Catalogue of Published Music, 1867-2002. Jefferson, North Carolina: MacFarland & Company, Inc. p. 145.

[6] Smith, Kathleen E. R. (2003). God Bless America: Tin Pan Alley Goes to War. Lexington: The University Press of Kentucky. p. 99. ISBN 0-8131-2256-2.

[7] Who Killed Jimmy Dammit? (Lulu, 2011), pg. 58

[8] Capitol Steps (Comedy troupe). Sheik, Rattle & Roll! Alexandria, VA: Capitol Steps Productions, 1990. OCLC 24499263

[9] Crutchfield, Will (December 30, 1984). "Music: P.D.Q. Bach, With Peter Schickele". New York Times. Retrieved January 13, 2017.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Infobox song <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Songs -->
+{{Infobox song
-| Name            = K-K-K-Katy
+| name      = K-K-K-Katy
-| cover           =K-K-K-Katy Cover.jpg
+| cover     = K-K-K-Katy Cover.jpg
+| caption = Sheet music cover
-| English_title   =
-| Type            =
+| alt       =
-| Artist          =
+| type      =
+| written   =
-| original_artist =
+| published =
-| alt Artist      =
-| recorded_by     =
+| writer    = [[Geoffrey O'Hara]]
-| performed_by    =
+| composer  =
-| Album           =
+| lyricist  =
-| A-side          =
-| Recorded        =1917
-| Released        =
-| Published       =1918
-| Genre           =
-| Length          = <!-- {{Duration|m=MM|s=SS}} -->
-| Writer          = [[Geoffrey O'Hara]]
-| Composer        =
-| Lyricist        =
-| Language        =
-| Form            =
-| Label           =
-| Producer        =
-| ISWC            =
-| Tracks          =
-| prev            =
-| prev_no         =
-| track_no        =
-| next            =
-| next_no         =
-| Misc            =
 }}
-"'''K-K-K-Katy'''" was a popular [[World War I]]-era song written by Canadian American composer [[Geoffrey O'Hara]] in 1917 and published in 1918.  The sheet music advertised it as "The Sensational [[Stuttering|Stammering]] Song Success Sung by the Soldiers and Sailors", as well as "The Sensational New Stammering Song"<ref>{{cite book|last1=Pelger|first1=Martin|title=Soldiers' Songs and Slang of the Great War|date=2014|publisher=Osprey Publishing|location=New York|isbn=978-1-4728-0415-0|page=277}}</ref> The song was first played at a garden party fund-raiser for the Red Cross in Collins Bay on Lake Ontario.  O'Hara was from Chatham, Ontario, and taught music at Ontario University.
+"'''K-K-K-Katy'''" is a [[World War I]]-era song written by Canadian-American composer [[Geoffrey O'Hara]] in 1917 and published in 1918.  The sheet music advertised it as "The Sensational [[Stuttering|Stammering]] Song Success Sung by the Soldiers and Sailors", as well as "The Sensational New Stammering Song"<ref>{{cite book|last1=Pelger|first1=Martin|title=Soldiers' Songs and Slang of the Great War|date=2014|publisher=Osprey Publishing|location=New York|isbn=978-1-4728-0415-0|page=277}}</ref> The song was first played at a garden party fund-raiser for the [[International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement|Red Cross]] in [[Collins Bay, Ontario|Collins Bay]] on [[Lake Ontario]].  O'Hara was from [[Chatham, Ontario]], and taught music at several universities.
-The inspiration for the "Katy" of the song was Katherine Craig Richardson (who did not stutter) of Kingston, Ontario. She was a friend of O'Hara's sister, and her parents recall O'Hara writing the song in their living room.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Furia |first1=Philip |last2=Lasser |first2=Michael |date=2006 |title=America's Songs: The Stories Behind the Songs of Broadway, Hollywood, and Tin Pan Alley |location=New York |publisher=Routledge |pages=20–21 |isbn=978-0-415-97246-8}}</ref>
+The lyrics tell of a brave but stuttering soldier called Jimmy who is lovesick over the beautiful Katy. He buys a wedding ring before going to fight in [[Western Front (World War I)|France]]. The inspiration for the "Katy" of the song was Katherine Craig Richardson of [[Kingston, Ontario]]. She was a friend of O'Hara's sister, and her parents recall O'Hara writing the song in their living room.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Furia |first1=Philip |last2=Lasser |first2=Michael |date=2006 |title=America's Songs: The Stories Behind the Songs of Broadway, Hollywood, and Tin Pan Alley |location=New York |publisher=Routledge |pages=20–21 |isbn=978-0-415-97246-8}}</ref>{{dubious|date=January 2024}}
 {{listen
@@ Line 43: / Line 22: @@
  | format       = ##Ogg##
 }}
+== Chorus==
+:K-K-K-Katy, beautiful Katy
+:You're the only g-g-g-girl that I adore
+:When the M-M-M-Moon shines over the [[cowshed]]
+:I'll be waiting at the k-k-k-kitchen door.
 ==Early performances and commercial success==
-"K-K-K-Katy" was a top 20 song from May 1918 to January 1919 and was number 1 from July to September.<ref name="auto">Paas, John Roger 2014. America Sings of War: American Sheet Music from World War I. Harrassowitz Verlag. pg 218, {{ISBN|978-3-447-10278-0}}#</ref>  It was recorded by [[Billy Murray (singer)|Billy Murray]] on March 8, 1918 and released on [[Victor Records|Victor]] 18455.{{citation needed|date=January 2015}}
+"K-K-K-Katy" was a top 20 song from May 1918 to January 1919 and was number 1 from July to September.<ref name="auto">Paas, John Roger 2014. America Sings of War: American Sheet Music from World War I. Harrassowitz Verlag. pg 218, {{ISBN|978-3-447-10278-0}}#</ref>  It was recorded by [[Billy Murray (singer)|Billy Murray]] on March 8, 1918 and released on [[Victor Records|Victor]] 18455.{{citation needed|date=January 2015}} Eugene Buckley also recorded a version of the song.<ref name="auto"/> The sheet music was heavily reprinted.<ref name="auto"/>
+A version titled "K-K-K-Klanswoman," with altered lyrics, was published in a "Song Book For [[Women of the Ku Klux Klan]]," {{circa}}1924.<ref>{{cite book|title=Song Book for Women of the Ku Klux Klan (Incorporated)|date=c. 1924|publisher=MacVay Printing Co.|location=Pittsburg, Pennsylvania|page=21}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=O. Crew|first1=Danny|title=Ku Klux Klan Sheet Music: An Illustrated Catalogue of Published Music, 1867-2002|date=2003|publisher=MacFarland & Company, Inc.|location=Jefferson, North Carolina|page=145}}</ref> In the late 60s, Mad Magazine had a version called "ca-ca-ca-cooties". A Second World War official Army song book had a song "K-k-k-K.P."
+The song made a comeback during [[World War II]], when songs from World War I became popular at military training camps. "K-K-K-Katy" was one of many songs brought to the [[front (military)|front]] by officers who had heard this song while on leave in England. Older songs such as "K-K-K-Katy" were often preferred over modern songs.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Smith|first1=Kathleen E. R.|title=God Bless America: Tin Pan Alley Goes to War|date=2003|publisher=The University Press of Kentucky|location=Lexington|isbn=0-8131-2256-2|page=99}}</ref>
-[[Eugene Buckley]] also recorded a version of the song.<ref name="auto"/>
+The song was covered by [[Mel Blanc]] in his Porky Pig voice in 1949, with some vocalists backing him. The song can be heard on the compilation album ''Mel Blanc: The Man of 1000 Voices'' 2007.{{citation needed|date=January 2015}} [[Bing Crosby]] included the song in a medley on his album ''[[Join Bing and Sing Along ]]'' (1959)
-The sheet music was heavily reprinted.<ref name="auto"/>
-The song made a comeback during World War II, when songs from World War I became popular at military training camps. "K-K-K-Katy" was one of many songs brought to the [[front (military)|front]] by officers who had heard this song while on leave in England. Older songs such as "K-K-K-Katy" were often preferred over modern songs.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Smith|first1=Kathleen E. R.|title=God Bless America: Tin Pan Alley Goes to War|date=2003|publisher=The University Press of Kentucky|location=Lexington|isbn=0-8131-2256-2|page=99}}</ref>
-The song was covered by [[Mel Blanc]] in his Porky Pig voice 1949, with some vocalists backing him. The song can be heard on the compilation album ''Mel Blanc: The Man of 1000 Voices'' 2007.{{citation needed|date=January 2015}}
 ==Later performances and parodies==
-The song was the basis of a parody which ridiculed the [[Ku Klux Klan]],<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=NG4oAwAAQBAJ&lpg=PA58&ots=AVy6xP6VBQ&dq=K-K-K%20Katy%20%22Ku%20Klux%20Klan%22&pg=PA58#v=onepage&q=K-K-K%20Katy%20%22Ku%20Klux%20Klan%22&f=false ''Who Killed Jimmy Dammit?'' (Lulu, 2011), pg. 58]</ref> a reactionary terrorist organization in the United States of America often referred to by its acronym, KKK.
+The song was the basis of a parody which ridiculed the [[Ku Klux Klan]],<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=NG4oAwAAQBAJ&dq=K-K-K+Katy+%22Ku+Klux+Klan%22&pg=PA58 ''Who Killed Jimmy Dammit?'' (Lulu, 2011), pg. 58]</ref> a white supremacist organization in the United States often referred to by its acronym, KKK.
+Additionally, the political-humor group [[Capitol Steps]] performed a parody of this song entitled "K-K-Kuwaitis", about the 1990 [[invasion of Kuwait]] which began the [[Gulf War]]. The song was released on their 1990 album ''Sheik, Rattle & Roll!''<ref>Capitol Steps (Comedy troupe). ''Sheik, Rattle & Roll!'' Alexandria, VA: Capitol Steps Productions, 1990. {{OCLC|24499263}}</ref>
-The song is also mentioned in Dennis Potter's play ''Blue Remembered Hills'', which was first seen on BBC TV in January 1979.  The play is about a group of seven-year-old children played by adults who spend a summer's day in 1943 playing in the woods.  Raymond, a child with a stammer, is mocked by the other children, who taunt him several times during the play by singing lines from "K-K-K-Katy".{{citation needed|date=January 2015}}
-''Katie'', the 1987 debut album of post-punk group Bodhitrees, featured a humorous cover of the song to conclude the album.{{citation needed|date=January 2015}}
-Additionally, the political-humor group [[Capitol Steps]] performed a parody of this song entitled "K-K-Kuwaitis", about the 1990 invasion of Kuwait which began the [[Gulf War]]. The song was released on their 1990 album ''Sheik, Rattle & Roll!''<ref>Capitol Steps (Comedy troupe). ''Sheik, Rattle & Roll!'' Alexandria, VA: Capitol Steps Productions, 1990. {{OCLC|24499263}}</ref>
 The "Yriekay" movement of [[P.D.Q. Bach]]'s ''Missa Hilarious'' includes a section with the text "K-K-K-Kyrie eleison", in reference to this song.<ref>{{cite news |last=Crutchfield |first=Will |date=December 30, 1984 |title=Music: P.D.Q. Bach, With Peter Schickele |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/12/30/arts/music-pdq-bach-with-peter-schickele.html |newspaper=New York Times |access-date=January 13, 2017 }}</ref>
-Robert Redford's character (Hubbell) in "The Way We Were" yelled K-K-K-Katie to Barbra Streisand's character (Katie) during the 1973 film.
+[[Bradford Dillman]]'s character in ''[[The Way We Were]]'' heckles [[Barbra Streisand]]'s character, Young Communist League member Katie Morosky, with "K-K-K-Katie, be my K-K-K-Comrade" in a pre-World War II campus peace rally during the 1973 film.
 ==References==
@@ Line 74: / Line 52: @@
 {{refend}}
-==Additional reading==
+==Further reading==
 *Leo Feist, Inc. ''Songs the Soldiers and Sailors Sing!: A Collection of Favorite Songs As Sung by the Soldiers and Sailors - "Over Here" and "Over There," Including Complete Choruses Words and Music of 36 of the Most Popular and Most Sung "Newer" Songs.'' New York, N.Y.: Leo. Feist, 1918. {{OCLC | 24169456}}
 *Parker, Bernard S. ''World War I Sheet Music: 9,670 Patriotic Songs Published in the United States, 1914–1920, with More Than 400 Covers Illustrated.'' Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 2006. {{ISBN|0-7864-2493-1}} {{OCLC | 225972248}}
@@ Line 81: / Line 59: @@
 ==External links==
+{{Commons category}}
+{{wikisource}}
 *[https://archive.org/download/BillyMurray_part3/BillyMurray-K-K-K-KatyStammeringSongWorldWarISong_2.mp3 Billy Murray's solo recording]
 *[http://www.idaillinois.org/cdm/ref/collection/p16614coll23/id/202 sheet music and music MP3 found at the Illinois Digital Archive]
 *[https://www.loc.gov/item/ihas.200208206 K-K-K-Katy Sheet Music at the Library of Congress]
+{{Stuttering}}{{Billy Murray|state=autocollapse}}
-{{Commons category}}
+{{authority control}}
-{{wikisource}}
-{{Stuttering}}
 [[Category:1917 songs]]
 [[Category:Songs of World War I]]
 [[Category:Billy Murray (singer) songs]]
-[[Category:Stuttering]]
+[[Category:Stuttering in popular culture]]

v t e Stuttering/stammering
Organizations	American Institute for Stuttering (US) International Stuttering Research Foundation Stamma (UK) European League of Stuttering Associations FRIENDS (US) Indian Stammering Association International Stuttering Association Israel Stuttering Association Michael Palin Centre (UK) National Stuttering Association (US) Stuttering Foundation (US)
Management	Overview Delayed Auditory Feedback Electronic fluency device
Other	Stuttering pride International Stuttering Awareness Day National Stuttering Awareness Week The Monster Study
Popular culture	A Fish Called Wanda Attention bandits! The Case of the Stuttering Bishop K-K-K-Katy The King's Speech "My Generation" Porky Pig Scatman (Ski-Ba-Bop-Ba-Dop-Bop) Rocket Science Stutterer Su.. Su... Sudhi Vathmeekam
List of stutterers