K-K-K-Katy
| "K-K-K-Katy" | |
|---|---|
 Sheet music cover | |
| Song | |
| Songwriter(s) | Geoffrey O'Hara |
"K-K-K-Katy"is aWorld War I-era song written by Canadian-American composerGeoffrey O'Harain 1917 and published in 1918. The sheet music advertised it as "The SensationalStammeringSong 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 theRed CrossinCollins BayonLake Ontario.O'Hara was fromChatham, 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 inFrance.The inspiration for the "Katy" of the song was Katherine Craig Richardson ofKingston, 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]
Chorus
[edit]- 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 c-c-c-cowshed
- I'll be waiting at the k-k-k-kitchen door.
Early performances and commercial success
[edit]"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 byBilly Murrayon March 8, 1918 and released onVictor18455.[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 ForWomen 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 duringWorld 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 thefrontby 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 byMel Blancin his Porky Pig voice in 1949, with some vocalists backing him. The song can be heard on the compilation albumMel Blanc: The Man of 1000 Voices2007.[citation needed]Bing Crosbyincluded the song in a medley on his albumJoin Bing and Sing Along(1959)
Later performances and parodies
[edit]The song was the basis of a parody which ridiculed theKu Klux Klan,[7]a white supremacist organization in the United States often referred to by its acronym, KKK.
Additionally, the political-humor groupCapitol Stepsperformed a parody of this song entitled "K-K-Kuwaitis", about the 1990invasion of Kuwaitwhich began theGulf War.The song was released on their 1990 albumSheik, Rattle & Roll![8]
The "Yriekay" movement ofP.D.Q. Bach'sMissa Hilariousincludes a section with the text "K-K-K-Kyrie eleison", in reference to this song.[9]
Bradford Dillman's character inThe Way We WerehecklesBarbra 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
[edit]- ^Pelger, Martin (2014).Soldiers' Songs and Slang of the Great War.New York: Osprey Publishing. p. 277.ISBN978-1-4728-0415-0.
- ^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.ISBN978-0-415-97246-8.
- ^abcPaas, John Roger 2014. America Sings of War: American Sheet Music from World War I. Harrassowitz Verlag. pg 218,ISBN978-3-447-10278-0#
- ^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.ISBN0-8131-2256-2.
- ^Who Killed Jimmy Dammit?(Lulu, 2011), pg. 58
- ^Capitol Steps (Comedy troupe).Sheik, Rattle & Roll!Alexandria, VA: Capitol Steps Productions, 1990.OCLC24499263
- ^Crutchfield, Will (December 30, 1984)."Music: P.D.Q. Bach, With Peter Schickele".New York Times.RetrievedJanuary 13,2017.
- Who Wrote that SongDick Jacobs& Harriet Jacobs, published by Writer's Digest Books, 1993
Further reading
[edit]- 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.OCLC24169456
- 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.ISBN0-7864-2493-1OCLC225972248
- Vogel, Frederick G.World War I Songs: A History and Dictionary of Popular American Patriotic Tunes, with Over 300 Complete Lyrics.Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., 1995.ISBN0-89950-952-5OCLC32241433
- Smith, Kathleen E.R.God Bless America: Tin Pan Alley Goes to War.Lexington: The University Press of Kentucky, 2003.ISBN0-8131-2256-2OCLC50868277
External links
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