The lyrics I remember from childhood are just slightly different from any of the lyrics posted so far. Seems to me they were in one of several songbooks my mother refered to, although I'm not certain of that ...



SHORT'NIN' BREAD


Put on the skillet, put on the lid,
Mama's gonna [Mamma gwine?] make a little short'nin' bread.
That ain't all Mamma gonna do,
Mamma gonna make a little coffee,too.

CHORUS
Mamma's little baby love short'nin', short'nin',
Mamma's little baby love short'nin' bread.
(repeat)

Two little chill'uns up in bed,
One just sick, the other 'most dead;
Send for the doctor, the doctor said,
Feed them chill'uns some short'nin' bread.

CHORUS

Stole the skillet, stole the lid,
Stole that gal makin' short'nin' bread;
Paid six dollars for the skillet, paid six dollars for the lid,
Married that gal makin' short'nin' bread.

CHORUS



Among the others mentioned, Sonny Terry recorded a version of this song.