Ain't no running in and out
Not while mama is cooking
Ain't no running in and out
Not while grandma is cooking
Ain't no running in and out
Not while auntie is cooking
You keep running in and out
Boy you sure to catch a whipping
Now she rolled up her sleeves
Now she washing the collards
Dark green leaves
Southern peaches for the cobblers
A bag of cornmeal
She be seasoning her flour
Cornbread in the oven
By the end of the hour
Ain't no running in and out
Not while mama is cooking
Ain't no running in and out
Not while grandma is cooking
Ain't no running in and out
Not while auntie is cooking
You keep running in and out
Boy you sure to catch a whipping
There is grown folk conversation
Going on in the kitchen
The first time you heard
Grandma losing her religion
A whole lot of swearing
And a whole lot of living
And a whole lot of laughing in the black tradition
Ain't no running in and out
Not while mama is cooking
Ain't no running in and out
Not while grandma is cooking
Ain't no running in and out
Not while auntie is cooking
You keep running in and out
Boy you sure to catch a whipping
When the matriarch sits
Then you're free to have a seat
What she puts on your plate
Is exactly what you eat
But you better leave your fork and knife
In its place
Until grandma is good and done
Saying grace
Ain't no running in and out
Not while mama is cooking
Ain't no running in and out
Not while grandma is cooking
Ain't no running in and out
Not while auntie is cooking
You keep running in and out
Boy you sure to catch a whipping