Pulled out of Denton, Texas
Two days and nights ago
I been livin' on pills and burgers
Till the whites of my eyes don't show
The south-bound headlights are makin' me blind
And I'm too damn tired to blink
My toes are numb and my brain's gone dumb
And I can just barely think
Sweet Melinda, my wife
The lonesome moan of this eighteen wheeler
Cuts through me like a knife
Except for you, sweet Melinda, my wife
I been ridin' on empty most all of my life

Two more hours till daylight
And it's startin' to rain again
A sign up ahead says welcome to Paradise
Population Ten
Well, me and this truck and that old white line
Stumblin' on and on
Like three old drinkin' buddies
Comin' home at dawn
Singin' Ooh, sweet Melinda, my wife
The lonesome moan of this eighteen wheeler
Cuts through me like a knife
Except for you, sweet Melinda, my wife
I been ridin' on empty most all of my life

Except for you, Sweet Melinda, my wife
The lonesome moan of this eighteen wheeler
Cuts through me like a knife
Except for you, Sweet Melinda, my wife
I been ridin' on empty most all of my life
I been ridin' on empty most all of my life