Three little children lyin' in bed,
Two of them sick and the other most dead.
Called for the doctor, the doctor said,
"Feed them children some shortnin' bread.
Chorus
Mammy's little baby loves shortnin', shortnin',
Mammy's little baby loves shortnin' bread. [Repeat both lines.]
When them children lying in the bed
Heard that talk about shortnin' bread,
Thay all got up and began to shout,
Laughin' and a-singin' and a-dancin' about.
Put on the skillet, put on the lid,
Mammy's gonna make a little shortnin' bread.
Then after that, there's a treat for you,
Mammy's gonna make a little coffee too.