Short'nin Bread

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Shortnin’ Bread was a song that originated in the 1800s. It was a plantation song about slaves.[1] The original lyrics were blatantly racist, and they were recorded by John Avery Lomax. The earliest version of the song was written by James Whitcomb Riley in 1900 and referred to the infant “darkies” and “n*ggers” of Mammy. Since then the lyrics have been changed to dismissed the racial issue.

Lyrics

James Whitecomb Riley version:[2]

Two little n*ggers lyin’ in the bed,

One of ’em sick an’ de odder mos’ dead.

Call for de doctor an’ de doctor said,

Feed dem darkies on short’nin bread

Mammy’s little baby loves short’nin short’nin

Mammy’s little baby loves short’nin bread.

References