Shortnin’ Bread

From Vol. 2
Family Favorites

SUGGESTED KEY: G

CAPO: None

CHORD FAMILY: G

TIME SIGNATURE: 4/4

SKILL LEVEL: Easy

A Little About This Song…

Though one might assume that the tune Shortnin’ Bread was born on a southern plantation, it was written by James Whitcomb Riley, a white poet from Indiana, around 1900. The song became a favorite in minstrel shows and vaudeville acts, and is now one of America’s most recognized folksongs. The original word “Mammy” is no longer used; here we substitute “Ma-maw”, a nickname often given to a country grandmother.