Never Drive a Stranger from Your Door
Willie Harris Lyrics


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Don't you never drive a stranger from your door
Never drive a stranger from your door
If he come to your home, got no place to go
Make him down a pallet on your floor

Baby, won't you make me down a pallet on your floor?
Make me down a pallet on your floor
Make it soft and low, right behind your door
Make it where your husband never know

Oh, what make how I love my baby so?
What make how I love my baby so?
Tell me what make how I love my baby so?
She makes five dollars and she give me four

Honey babe, I certainly do love you
Honey baby, I certainly do love you
Honey baby, I certainly do love you
But I don't like that lowdown way you do

Don't you never drive a stranger from your door
Never drive a stranger from your door




If I come to your home, got no place to go
Make me down a pallet on your floor

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Willie Harris's song “Never Drive a Stranger from Your Door” encourage hospitality, kindness, and generosity towards strangers. The song emphasizes the importance of providing shelter to those who do not have a place to go. The repetition of the first two lines emphasizes the message of never turning away someone who is in need. Rather than refusing to help, we should go out of our way and create a place for people in need. The song goes on to discuss the idea of love, with the singer expressing love for his partner but disliking certain aspects of her behavior. The chorus repeats the message of never driving strangers away.


The themes of the song reflect the experiences of African Americans during the early and mid-20th century. It was common for African Americans to be turned away from white homes and businesses, which led to the creation of the Green Book, a travel guide that listed safe places for African Americans to stay and eat during their travels. The idea of giving strangers a place to stay, even if they are not known, provides a sense of community and belonging that is often denied to marginalized groups. The song also reflects the importance of resilience and perseverance during times of hardship.


Line by Line Meaning

Don't you never drive a stranger from your door
Do not turn away someone in need who comes to your doorstep


Never drive a stranger from your door
Reiterating the importance of not turning away strangers who seek help


If he come to your home, got no place to go
If someone comes to your home without a place to stay


Make him down a pallet on your floor
Provide them a comfortable spot to rest for the night


Baby, won't you make me down a pallet on your floor?
Asking the host to provide a comfortable place to sleep


Make me down a pallet on your floor
Requesting for a makeshift bed on the floor


Make it soft and low, right behind your door
Make the bed comfortable and discreet, just behind the door


Make it where your husband never know
Ensure that the host's husband is not aware of the guest sleeping in the house


Oh, what make how I love my baby so?
What is the reason for my intense love for my partner?


What make how I love my baby so?
Asking oneself about the reason behind their strong love for their partner


Tell me what make how I love my baby so?
Requesting for an answer as to why they love their partner so much


She makes five dollars and she give me four
The partner's income is lower, yet they still provide for the artist as much as they can


Honey babe, I certainly do love you
Expressing love for the partner


Honey baby, I certainly do love you
The singer loves their partner dearly


Honey baby, I certainly do love you
Reiterating the previous statement about loving their partner


But I don't like that lowdown way you do
Disliking a certain behavior of the partner


If I come to your home, got no place to go
If the artist ever finds themselves without a place to stay


Make me down a pallet on your floor
Asking the host to provide a comfortable spot to sleep




Contributed by Luke A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@TheBlackSongBird

I think that Sam Chatman singing

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