Pulled out of Denton, Texas
Two days and nights ago
I been livin' on pills and burgies
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 dum
And I can just barely think

Doo doo doo, 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
Whooo

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
Whoo, whooo

'Cept 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
Whoo, I been ridin' on empty most all of my life