Make Me A Pallet On Your Floor

bronco

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Description

Another traditional folk song about hard times. Seems appropriate for these times and unfortunately more so in the future. This was recorded in a big room with a lot of echo so the vocal may seem a little distant or muffled. However these days with health problems, I just have to go with what's easiest at the time. Origin of this song is probably lost in the sands of time but I first heard it on a Mississippi John Hurt record, although my version is quite different from that. The vocal is double tracked to get more volume and all the guitar work is my Martin D-18. As we used to say in Austin, "Onward through the fog". Oh yeah, if you didn't know, a pallet is simply a temporary bed. Usually just a couple of blankets and maybe a pillow on a hard wood floor. Been there, done that in my youth. Never got the t-shirt though.

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Lyrics

Make me a pallet on your floor
Make me a pallet on your floor
Make me a pallet, long, soft and low
You know I'm broke and i've got no place to go

These blues are everywhere I see
Blues are everywhere I see
Blues all around me, everywhere I see
Nobody's had these blues like me

Come all you good time friends of mine
Come all you good time friends of mine
When I had a dollar you treated me just fine
Where were you when I only had a dime

Song Stats

Hits: 1210
Comments: 29
Fans: 15
Plays: 140
Downloads: 23
Votes: 3
Uploaded: Jun 13, 2011 - 01:39:02 PM
Last Updated: Jun 13, 2011 - 01:39:02 PM Last Played: Apr 24, 2013 - 09:03:13 PM

Song License

Creative Commons License:
NonCommercial-ShareAlike

Song Actions

Keywords:

traditional music (1), folk (531), Mississippi John Hurt (1), acoustic guitar (90), picking (8)

Hardware:

iMac, Luziane tea with lime, Martin D-18

Software:

Comments

alackbass

alackbass said 707 days ago (June 13th, 2011)

Make Me A Pallet On Your Floor
I saw the title and knew right away you were breaking out some Mississippi John Hurt. The guitars sound really nice. And you sing it with great confidence. This has a great "friends jamming on the back porch" sound! Brought a smile to my face.

And sorry to hear you're not feeling well. Here's hoping you feel better soon.

Check out my latest song called Just Ain't Worth a Song (2 Track)

bronco	bronco said 707 days ago (June 13th, 2011)
	Thanks Andrew Yep, love Mississippi John. People that say I sound mellow should give him a listen. Traditional folk may not be popular these days but I still love it and will be doing a few more hopefully. Working hard on getting my health back and know I will be successful. Hey, already felt good enough to make another recording. Check out my latest song called Which Way Is Up?

SISTERS	SISTERS said 707 days ago (June 13th, 2011)
	pretty sweet i really like the sound you're getting out of the guitar. your vocal sits easy on the ear. it's a dandy mood you've put me in! anne Check out my latest song called UNIVERSAL SONG w Astronomusic & 24 Soloists

bronco	bronco said 707 days ago (June 13th, 2011)
	pretty sweet Thanks Anne! I haven't been playing guitar much lately so I was surprised that it turned out as well as it did. Glad you enjoyed it and I could put you in a good mood. Check out my latest song called Which Way Is Up?

PeterB7858	PeterB7858 said 707 days ago (June 13th, 2011)
	Sitting round enjoying... Hi Tom. Nice "down on the farm" style. Sounds like a couple of old friends sitting round enjoying making some music. Thanks for the post. Hope your health improves. Regards, Peter. Check out my latest song called Autumn Falling

bronco	bronco said 707 days ago (June 13th, 2011)
	Peter Good to hear from you. It's great that we have these computers to play with now if a friend isn't around at the moment. And also great that we meet new friends through them also. Check out my latest song called Which Way Is Up?

Doadars Uncle	Doadars Uncle said 707 days ago (June 13th, 2011)
	Freshness This has a great energy to it. I really like the performance, too! Excellent! Check out my latest song called Alone (reboot)

bronco	bronco said 706 days ago (June 14th, 2011)
	Folk Lives Thanks Doug! Glad you could drop by and give it a listen. Check out my latest song called Which Way Is Up?

michaeljayklein

michaeljayklein said 707 days ago (June 13th, 2011)

Arlo Guthrie revisited
Except I don't think he could play nearly as well as you Tom. This song has a lot of power and touches on the emotions in a basic but right there kind of way (truly, this song would have been a well-known one during the Great Depression--it contains that kind of feeling to it.) Great playing, singing and the fascinating thing about this recording is in my mind, it put me right there watching and listening to these balladeers in some rural setting, perhaps closing up the neighborhood drinking spot at night. Stellar work here Tom--right up there with your best, and thanks for sharing! Michael

Check out my latest song called Old Man Mose is Dead

bronco

bronco said 706 days ago (June 14th, 2011)

Walk Right In
Thanks so much for the compliment on my guitar playing Michael. Arlo was pretty good at times though. I struggled for years to play Alice's Restaurant. His version of "City of New Orleans" was good also. I actually got to ride that train from Chicago to New Orleans one summer and it is one of the great memories of my life. Thanks again for listening and the kind remarks.

Check out my latest song called Which Way Is Up?

michael2	michael2 said 706 days ago (June 14th, 2011)
	very nice i love folk music and this sounds tremendous. plenty of pallets in my youth. you play so well too. very nice track. Check out my latest song called yes you told me (that you're cynical)

bronco	bronco said 706 days ago (June 14th, 2011)
	Thanks Michael Hey appreciate you coming by. Thanks for the nice comments. Check out my latest song called Which Way Is Up?

RAVENS	RAVENS said 706 days ago (June 14th, 2011)
	Blueness But, but, but, that would mean you'd get stepped on! No, we can't have that! ;-) What a great song, love your guitar playing & your vocals are so full of emotion. Just awesome! RAVEN ;-) Check out my latest song called Tattooed Scars (w/ Sigmund, Scofugate, Rok41)

bronco	bronco said 706 days ago (June 14th, 2011)
	What a Nice Surprise Thanks Miss Raven for your nice words about this old man's unworthy singing and guitar playing. And even concern for bruises on my poor limbs. I assure you I will be careful where I lay that pallet down. Well out of traffic areas if at all possible. Check out my latest song called Which Way Is Up?

magnatone	magnatone said 705 days ago (June 15th, 2011)
	Make Me A Pallet Hi Tom - your guitar is sounding great, and your voice goes straight to the heart with these very cool lyrics. this is wonderful! Check out my latest song called Blind Love (Seeing Heart) - Orchestral Version

bronco	bronco said 705 days ago (June 15th, 2011)
	Karen You are so kind in your comments. Very nice to hear from you - hope all is well! Check out my latest song called Which Way Is Up?

Philip18	Philip18 said 703 days ago (June 17th, 2011)
	From the heart I love these trad songs. You are able to convey the emotion underpinning this song, and the guitar playing offsets your vocal just right. Thanks for sharing it - and I too hope your health improves. Check out my latest song called Close to Midnight w/ alackbass, rok41, paul f. page, & KyasheMusic

bronco	bronco said 699 days ago (June 21st, 2011)
	Hi Phillip Everything is going fine here. Love to hear from another who appreciates the old folk songs. Check out my latest song called Which Way Is Up?

gadzooks	gadzooks said 703 days ago (June 17th, 2011)
	Make Me A Pallet On Your Floor I really like the unplugged feel of this. Simple two guitars , one strumming and one picking. The room echo is real natural. I've slept on a few pallet's in my days and I've been broke. Good performance. SG Check out my latest song called A Fly

bronco	bronco said 699 days ago (June 21st, 2011)
	Hard Times I am glad that the room echo wasn't too much for you. The lyrics are definitely something that most everyone can relate to. That's what makes these type of songs so cool. They are about real people living real lives. Check out my latest song called Which Way Is Up?

Bob Rodgers	Bob Rodgers said 702 days ago (June 18th, 2011)
	I really like the raw sound to this, guitars sound great, you play and sing so well. Wonderful lyrics and vocals. Great performance and very much enjoyed. Bob Check out my latest song called We Can't Let It Go

bronco	bronco said 699 days ago (June 21st, 2011)
	D-18 Yes, you can't beat my old Martin for tone. It does great on these types of songs but not so good on bar chords up the neck. Thanks for the encouraging words. Check out my latest song called Which Way Is Up?

J_Gretch	J_Gretch said 702 days ago (June 18th, 2011)
	remember Hey Tom, This song brings back some fond and not so fond memories.Slept on a pallet many a night.I love the line"Make me a pallet.long,soft and low."...Great tune man. Check out my latest song called Psycho

bronco	bronco said 699 days ago (June 21st, 2011)
	I hear that It was not to much fun to crash on someone's floor but when you are young you can get the kinks out in ten minutes of stretching. It would probably kill me to try it now. Check out my latest song called Which Way Is Up?

	issaquahbob said 701 days ago (June 19th, 2011)
	Nice version Always love MJH covers. Hard to do em' like him so I appreciated your slow take as almost all versions I've heard (or done myself) are fast). Your voice and playing is really clean and I liked hearing your version. Keep up the good work.

bronco	bronco said 699 days ago (June 21st, 2011)
	Thanks Yes nobody can recreate Mississippi John. Besides I always try to do my own versions when I do a cover as it never made any sense to me to try and do something exactly the same as they would always do it better. Check out my latest song called Which Way Is Up?

davisamerica	davisamerica said 700 days ago (June 20th, 2011)
	a pallet .... yeah yer a Texas boy .. me too Tom and this is a great track. sounds like i'm right there with ya. good one. Check out my latest song called 12

bronco	bronco said 699 days ago (June 21st, 2011)
	Transplanted Well a Texas boy for 35 years and a close neighbor before that (Louisiana). Very similar musical backgrounds for sure. It was actually hearing some of the "progressive" country acts from Austin while I was still living in Baton Rouge that was part of my inspiration for moving here. Check out my latest song called Which Way Is Up?

mowguy3	mowguy3 said 684 days ago (July 6th, 2011)
	There ya go I like the John Hurt comment, I would agree. Some fine acoustic work as well. Nice track, thanks..... Check out my latest song called What Would That Make Me?

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Artist Info

Name: Tom Bronco
Location:

I love to play guitar. I have been writing songs for many years and have a large catalog by this time. Songwriting is easy. Writing great songs is hard! Born in Louisiana and live in Texas. I grew up on Chuck, Jerry Lee, Elvis, Ricky, Little Richard ... [see more]

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More songs in Folk (traditional):

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