Mississippi John Hurt — Shortnin Bread

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 Mama's little baby loves Shortnin', shortnin' Mama's little baby loves Short'nin' bread Mama's little baby loves Shortnin', shortnin' Mama's little baby loves Shortnin' 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 Shortnin' bread." Mama's little baby loves Shortnin', shortnin' Mama's little baby loves Shortnin' bread Mama's little baby loves Shortnin', shortnin' Mama's little baby loves 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 Mama's little baby loves Shortnin', shortnin' Mama's little baby loves Shortnin' bread Mama's little baby loves Shortnin', shortnin' Mama's little baby loves Shortnin' bread Slip to the kitchen Slip up the led Filled my pockets full of Shortnin' bread; Stole the skillet Stole the led Stole the gal makin' Shortnin' bread Mama's little baby loves Shortnin', shortnin' Mama's little baby loves Shortnin' bread Mama's little baby loves Shortnin', shortnin' Mama's little baby loves Shortnin' bread Caught me with the skillet Caught me with the led Caught me with the gal makin' Shortnin' bread; Paid six dollars for the skillet Six dollars for the led Spent six months in jail eatin' Shortnin' bread Mama's little baby loves Shortnin', shortnin' Mama's little baby loves Shortnin' bread Mama's little baby loves Shortnin', shortnin' Mama's little baby loves Shortnin' bread