“Short’nin’ Bread” Sheet Music (pdf).
“Short’nin’ Bread” Karaoke (midi with lyrics).
Performer: Paul Robeson.
Lyrics: Traditional.
Tune: Traditional.
Put on the skillet, put on the lid,
Mammy’s goin’ to bake a little short’nin’ bread.
That ain’t all she’s goin’ to do;
Mammy’s goin’ to make a little coffee, too.
Mammy’s little baby loves short’nin’, short’nin’;
Mammy’s little baby loves short’nin’ bread.
Mammy’s little baby loves short’nin’, short’nin’;
Mammy’s little baby loves short’nin’ bread.
Three little darkies lyin’ in bed;
Two were sick and the other ‘most dead.
Sent for the doctor; doctor said,
“Feed those darkies on short’nin’ bread.”
Mammy’s little baby loves short’nin’, short’nin’;
Mammy’s little baby loves short’nin’ bread.
Mammy’s little baby loves short’nin’, short’nin’;
Mammy’s little baby loves short’nin’ bread.
I slip to the kitchen, slip up the lid,
Slip my pockets full of short’nin’ bread.
Stole the skillet, stole the lid,
Stole the gal to make short’nin’ bread.
Mammy’s little baby loves short’nin’, short’nin’;
Mammy’s little baby loves short’nin’ bread.
Mammy’s little baby loves short’nin’, short’nin’;
Mammy’s little baby loves short’nin’ bread.
They caught me with the skillet, caught me with the lid,
Caught me with the gal makin’ short’nin’ bread.
Paid six dollars for the skillet, paid six dollars for the lid,
Spent six months in jail eatin’ short’nin’ bread.
Mammy’s little baby loves short’nin’, short’nin’;
Mammy’s little baby loves short’nin’ bread.
Mammy’s little baby loves short’nin’, short’nin’;
Mammy’s little baby loves short’nin’ bread.