This catchy tune seems rather innocent and usually brings about blissful nostalgia. Yet, this nursery rhyme has not always been about “Mommy’s children.” 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. The lyrics are as follows:
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.
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