Lyr Req: Mammy's little baby? / Short'nin' Bread

Subject: Mammy's little baby
From:
Date: 12 Nov 98 - 06:57 PM

I'm trying to remember all the old songs that my folks would sing to me so that I can pass them on to my son. Unfortunately, I've aged more than I should have before I had my first and have forgotten the lyrics to this song. I'll type what I remember....Please e-mail any info you might have to the above or

[e-mail]

mammy's little baby like shortnin' shortnin', mammy's little baby like shortnin'bread so git out the skillet, get out the lid mammy's gonna make a little shortnin' bread an' that ain't all she gonna do mammy's gonna make a little coffee too

called up the doctor the docrtor said, feed them chillins on shortnin bread

Subject: RE: Mammy's little baby
From: Barbara
Date: 13 Nov 98 - 01:26 AM

Two little chillun, lyin' in bed
One o' dem sick, and the other mos' dead
Call for de doctor, de doctor say
Give dem shortnin' bread, right away!
Chorus: Mammy's little chillun loves shortnin', shortnin
Mammy's little chillun loves shortnin' bread.

Couldn't see it in the database, but possibly I just need to use different words or wildcards. I was sure I'd read a discussion of this here. Scratching head....
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Mammy's little baby
From: Ana
Date: 13 Nov 98 - 03:50 AM

The version I know is almost the same:- "two little babies,lyin' in bed one o dem sick an de other mos dead sent for de doctor,de doctor said you gota give dem babies some shortnen bread ch: Mama's little baby loves...etc

Subject: Lyr Add: SHORT'NIN' BREAD
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 13 Nov 98 - 06:44 PM

Ace1base,

From the dreaded Rise Up Singin' comes this traditional Southern African American song

SHORT'NIN' BREAD

  C
  Three little children lyin' in bed,
                       G7          C
  Two was sick and the other 'most dead.
    

Sent for the doctor, the doctor said,
                         G7         C
  Feed those children on short'nin' bread.

    

CHO:
  C
  Mammy's little baby loves short'nin', short'nin',
                            G7         C
  Mammy's little baby loves short'nin' bread. (repeat both lines)

    

Put on the skillet, put on the lid,
  Mammy goin' to bake a little short'nin' bread.
  That ain't all she's goin' to do,
  Mammy goin' to make a little coffee, too.  CHO:

    

The little child sick in bed,
  When he hear tell o' short'nin' bread.
  Popped up well, he dance an' sing,
  He almost cut the pigeon wing. CHO:

    

I slip to the kitchen, slip up the lid,
  Filled my pocket full o' short'nin' bread.
  Stole the skillet, stole the lid,
  Stole the gal makin' short'nin' bread.  CHO:

    

They caught me with the skillet, they caught me with the lid.
  They caught me iwth 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.  CHO:

  

Please be aware that some African Americans may find this song insensitive, condescending, and tasteless. Others may see it as part of the African American heritage.

The guitar chords given here are pretty basic. Many players would be more creative and more complicated.

Roger in Baltimore