Description
Arrangement of Geoffrey O’Hara’s comic song about Katy’s lover who had an unfortunate stutter.
The flutes, taking it in turns to play the melody, provide versions of the stammering (staccato triplets)
both in the tune and the accompaniment and both end up together with a snatch of “Good evening friends”
This song was a popular and well-known Canadian World War I-era song written by Geoffrey O’Hara in 1917
and published in 1918.
Also known as “The Stammering Song”, it was first recorded by Billy Murray in 1918
and went on to be recorded by many more artists.
The song’s popularity was ensured by O’Hara teaching the song to US troops
who then popularised the song to the point where publisher Leo Feist discovered it and began to make sheet music.
The song also spread among soldiers from Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom as they marched through Europe.
Jimmy was a soldier brave and bold
Katy was a maid with hair of gold
Like an act of fate, Kate was standing at the gate
Watching all the boys file on parade
Kate smiled with a twinkle in her eye
Jim said “M-m-meet you by-and-by!”
That same night at eight
Jim was at the garden gate
Stuttering this song to K-K-K-Kate
[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 cow shed
I’ll be waiting at the k-k-k-kitchen door
[Verse 2]
“No one ever looked so nice and neat!”
“No one could be just as cute and sweet!”
That’s what Jimmy thought
When the wedding ring he bought
Now he’s off to France the foe to meet
Jimmy thought he’d like to take a chance
See if he could make the Kaiser dance
Stepping to a tune all about the silv’ry moon
This is what they hear in far off France
[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 cow shed
I’ll be waiting at the k-k-k-kitchen door