Shortnin' Bread
Paul Chaplain & His Emeralds Lyrics


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Mammas little baby loves shortnin, shortnin, Mammas little baby loves shortnin bread.
Mammas little baby loves shortnin, shortnin, Mammas little baby loves shortnin bread.
Three little children layin in the bed.
Two were sick and the other most dead.
Sent for the doctor, the doctor said,"Feed those children on shortnin bread."Mammas little baby loves shortnin, shortnin, Mammas little baby loves shortnin bread.
Mammas little baby loves shortnin, shortnin, Mammas little baby loves shortnin bread.
When those children layin in the bed
Heard that talk about shortnin bread, They popped up well and started to sing, Skipping round the room doing the pigeon wing.
Mammas little baby loves shortnin, shortnin, Mammas little baby loves shortnin bread.
Mammas little baby loves shortnin, shortnin, Mammas little baby loves shortnin bread.
Put on the skillet! Put on the lid! Mammas going to make some shortnin bread.
Thats not all shes going to do, Mammas going to cook us some cocoa too! Mammas little baby loves shortnin, shortnin, Mammas little baby loves shortnin bread.
Mammas little baby loves shortnin, shortnin, Mammas little baby loves shortnin bread.
I snuck to the kitchen, picked up the lid, I filled my pockets full of shortnin bread.
I winked at the pretty little girl and said,"Baby, howd you like some shortnin bread?"Mammas little baby loves shortnin, shortnin, Mammas little baby loves shortnin bread.
Mammas little baby loves shortnin, shortnin, Mammas little baby loves shortnin bread.
Got caught with the skillet. Got caught with the lid.




Got caught with my mouth full of shortnin bread.
Six months for the skillet, six months for

Overall Meaning

the lid,
Six months for stealing the shortnin bread.


The song Shortnin' Bread is a traditional African-American folk song that has been recorded by many artists. The song is about a mother who is making shortnin' bread for her children. Shortnin' bread is a type of bread made with flour, butter or lard, and sugar. The song talks about how the children are sick and the doctor recommends feeding them shortnin' bread to help them get better. When the children hear about the shortnin' bread, they become excited and start singing and dancing.


The lyrics also talk about the singer stealing shortnin' bread from the kitchen, filling his pockets with it. The song ends with the singer getting caught stealing and receiving a six-month sentence for stealing the skillet, lid, and shortnin' bread. The song has a catchy melody and is often sung as a children's song in schools and homes.


Line by Line Meaning

Mammas little baby loves shortnin, shortnin, Mammas little baby loves shortnin bread.
Mama's baby enjoys and loves to eat shortening bread.


Three little children layin in the bed.
There were three sick children laying in the bed.


Two were sick and the other most dead.
Two of the children were ill, and one was almost dead.


Sent for the doctor, the doctor said,"Feed those children on shortnin bread."
They called the doctor, who suggested giving the children some shortening bread to eat.


When those children layin in the bed Heard that talk about shortnin bread, They popped up well and started to sing, Skipping round the room doing the pigeon wing.
After hearing about the shortening bread, the sick children became energized, happy, and started to dance around the room.


Put on the skillet! Put on the lid! Mammas going to make some shortnin bread. Thats not all shes going to do, Mammas going to cook us some cocoa too!
Mama is going to prepare shortening bread for everyone, and she is also going to make cocoa to drink.


I snuck to the kitchen, picked up the lid, I filled my pockets full of shortnin bread.
The singer sneakily went to the kitchen, grabbed the lid, and filled their pockets with shortening bread.


I winked at the pretty little girl and said,"Baby, howd you like some shortnin bread?"
The artist flirtatiously winked at a young girl and offered her some shortening bread.


Got caught with the skillet. Got caught with the lid. Got caught with my mouth full of shortnin bread. Six months for the skillet, six months for the lid, Six months for stealing shortnin bread.
The artist was caught stealing the skillet and lid used for making shortening bread, as well as being caught with their mouth full of the bread. They were sentenced to six months in jail for each offense.


Mammas little baby loves shortnin, shortnin, Mammas little baby loves shortnin bread.
Mama's baby continues to enjoy and love eating shortening bread.




Writer(s): Jacques Wolfe, Clement Wood

Contributed by Parker F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@sueoorbeck4887

Still have the 45. Great memories

@G8GT364CI

I used to play with Paul during the 80's, played with fast Eddie Morgan who was the original drummer on this record a few times too, he was 15 when he recorded this and couldn't go the road with the rest of the band. I think I met all of the original band members at one time or another.

@bobprince1767

My father, Bob Prince is on guitar and George D’bonaventura is on base.

@G8GT364CI

@@bobprince1767 Bob, I used to play with Joe Consolie and Paul and met the whole band at one time or another at local gigs. I didn't remember their names but I know I met them all except for Taz DiGregorio who played piano on this, he was long gone with the Charlie Daniels Band.

@Dickneeds

Another great Rock-A-Billy from Massachusetts.

@G8GT364CI

This is rock n roll.

@hurricanes976

Pau was on a bus tour with our band Johnny and the Hurricanes in the fall of 1960.
Jan and Dean were also on that tour among others.
I like backing him up on this recording as a drummer since I could do more than just play a backbeat.
He was a nice guy to work with and a lot of fun. A lot of laughs on this tour.

@The_Rebelles

Great drums! Thanks for the music :)

@elichappa3914

Thts my granpa

@G8GT364CI

I knew Paul, pretty well as a matter of fact, I played bass with him during the 80's with Joe Consolie.

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