Put on the skillet slip on the lid
Mama's gonna make a little shortnin' bread
That ain't all she's gonna do
Mama's gonna make a little coffee, too
Chorus:
Mama's little baby loves shortnin', shortnin'
Mama's little baby loves short'nin' bread
(Repeat)
Three little children lyin' in bed
Two were sick and the other 'most dead
Sent for the doctor and the doctor said
Give those children some shortnin' bread.
When those children sick in bed
Heard that talk about shortnin' bread
Popped up well to dance and sing
Skipped around and cut the pigeon wing
Slip to the kitchen slip off the lid
Filled my pockets full of shortnin' bread;
Stole the skillet stole the lid
Stole the gal makin' shortnin' bread
Caught me with the skillet caught me with the lid
Caught me with the gal makin' shortnin' bread;
Paid six dollars for the skillet six dollars for the lid
Spent six months in jail eatin' shortnin' bread
Verse and Chorus:
| I | I | I | V-I |
| I | I | I | V-I |