Mississippi John Hurt

Shortnin' Bread Lyrics



Put on the skillet,

Slip on the lid,

Mama's gonna make

A little short'nin' bread.

That ain't all

She's gonna do,

Mama's gonna make

A little coffee, too.



Mama's little baby loves

Short'nin', short'nin',

Mama's little baby loves

Short'nin' bread,

Mama's little baby loves

Short'nin', short'nin',

Mama's little baby loves

Short'nin' bread.



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

Short'nin' bread."



Mama's little baby loves

Short'nin', short'nin',

Mama's little baby loves

Short'nin' bread,

Mama's little baby loves

Short'nin', short'nin',

Mama's little baby loves

Short'nin' bread.



When those children,

Sick in bed,

Heard that talk

About short'nin' bread,

Popped up well

To dance and sing,

Skipped around and cut

The pigeon wing.



Mama's little baby loves

Short'nin', short'nin',

Mama's little baby loves

Short'nin' bread,

Mama's little baby loves

Short'nin', short'nin',

Mama's little baby loves

Short'nin' bread.



Slip to the kitchen,

Slip up the led,

Filled my pockets full of

Short'nin' bread;

Stole the skillet,

Stole the led,

Stole the gal makin'

Short'nin' bread.



Mama's little baby loves

Short'nin', short'nin',

Mama's little baby loves

Short'nin' bread,

Mama's little baby loves

Short'nin', short'nin',

Mama's little baby loves

Short'nin' bread.



Caught me with the skillet,

Caught me with the led,

Caught me with the gal makin'

Short'nin' bread;

Paid six dollars for the skillet,

Six dollars for the led,

Spent six months in jail eatin'

Short'nin' bread.



Mama's little baby loves

Short'nin', short'nin',

Mama's little baby loves

Short'nin' bread,

Mama's little baby loves

Short'nin', short'nin',

Mama's little baby loves

Short'nin' bread.