Shortnin' Bread
The Sisters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mama's gonna make a little short'nin' bread
That ain't all s Mama's gonna do
She'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'
Three little children, lyin' in bed
Two were sick and the other 'most dead
Sent for the doctor and the doctor said
"Feed those babies some short'nin' bread"
Mama's baby loves short'nin'
Mama's baby loves bread
Mama's baby loves short'nin'
Mama's little baby loves short'nin' bread
Slipped to the kitchen, slipped up the led
Slipped up the pockets full of short'nin' bread
She stole the skillet, she stole the led
Stole the gal makin' short'nin' bread
Oh, Mama's baby loves short'nin'
Oh, Mama's baby loves short'nin'
Oh, Mama's baby loves short'nin' bread
The short'nin' bread is always the thing to have, the thing to have, ah-da-dah
They must have their bread
They caught me with the skillet, they caught me with the lid
They caught me with the gal makin' short'nin' bread
Paid six dollars for the skillet, paid 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', rip
Oh, short'nin' bread
Oh Mama, give us bread
The song Shortnin' Bread by The Sisters has a simple yet captivating narrative that speaks of an African American woman preparing shortening bread for her family. The song begins with the woman putting the skillet and lid for cooking the bread, and later revealing that she plans to make coffee as well. This line incorporates a sense of familial care and versatility in the mother’s role.
Another part of the song speaks of how three children were lying in bed with two of them sick and the other almost dead. The doctor recommended feeding the babies some shortening bread. The song goes on to say how Mama's baby loves the bread and the woman stole the skillet to make herself some. However, she was caught and had to pay six dollars for the skillet and the lid and spent six months in jail eating shortening bread.
The song carries the cultural legacy of African American cuisine passed on through generations. It also partly represents the struggles faced by African Americans in the past while trying to preserve their culture amidst widespread discrimination.
Line by Line Meaning
Put on the skillet, put on the lid
Mama is preparing to cook bread and needs to put the skillet and lid on the stove.
Mama's gonna make a little short'nin' bread
Mama is planning to make a type of bread called short'nin' bread.
That ain't all s Mama's gonna do
Mama has other plans besides just making the bread.
She's gonna make a little coffee, too
Mama will also make coffee in addition to the bread.
Mama's little baby loves short'nin', short'nin',
Mama's baby really likes to eat short'nin' bread.
Mama's little baby loves short'nin' bread
Mama's baby really likes to eat short'nin' bread.
Three little children, lyin' in bed
There are three children who are currently in bed.
Two were sick and the other 'most dead
Of the three children, two are sick, and the other is close to being in critical condition.
Sent for the doctor and the doctor said
Someone called the doctor, and they arrived to check on the children.
"Feed those babies some short'nin' bread"
The doctor suggested that the children be fed short'nin' bread.
Slipped to the kitchen, slipped up the led
Someone went quietly to the kitchen and snuck away with something.
Slipped up the pockets full of short'nin' bread
The person snuck away with pockets full of short'nin' bread.
She stole the skillet, she stole the led
The person also stole the skillet and the lid used to cook the bread.
Stole the gal makin' short'nin' bread
The person even stole the woman making the bread.
Oh, Mama's baby loves short'nin'
Mama's baby really likes short'nin' bread.
Oh, Mama's baby loves short'nin'
Mama's baby really likes short'nin' bread.
Oh, Mama's baby loves short'nin' bread
Mama's baby really likes short'nin' bread.
The short'nin' bread is always the thing to have, the thing to have, ah-da-dah
Short'nin' bread is always a good thing to have.
They must have their bread
The children must have their short'nin' bread to help them feel better.
They caught me with the skillet, they caught me with the lid
Someone was caught with the skillet and lid used to make the bread.
They caught me with the gal makin' short'nin' bread
The person was caught with the woman who was making the bread.
Paid six dollars for the skillet, paid six dollars for the led
The person paid six dollars for both the skillet and the lid, but then got caught.
Spent six months in jail eatin' short'nin' bread
The person was punished for stealing and spent six months in jail, where they were forced to eat short'nin' bread.
Oh, Mama, give us bread
The children are asking their mother to give them short'nin' bread.
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: J BAIRD, TRADITIONAL, PD TRADITIONAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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@savannahsussman7225
My Little Mama sang this to me...she just sang it for me and couldn't remember one of the verses, so we looked it up and found this fantastic rendition❤
@whitetrash5627
My grandmother was born in the 1930s she sings this to all her grandkids and Great grandkids when they are babies. I thought she just made it up but here I am! This is so lovely to me that I can look it up and find it and hear it whenever I want. Since my grandmother doesn’t have internet or even a phone, I’m definitely gonna have to play this for her. I hope to make her day!
@dededethesuperstarwarrior
I wonder if you succeeded in making her day.
@jeffsmith4945
My grandmother was born in 1915 and sang the same song to her grandkids.
@kelliintexas3575
Here's the original I found in the Jim Crow Museum here on Youtube! https://youtu.be/zjZo_xY7w-M
@kellBelliam
Made my heart smile! 🫠
@sammy3212321
Dolly Parton and Patti Labelle on their acrylic nails
@adrianknight8697
that’s what brought me here
@batsybatsybats_
Hi yes that brought me here too