Mama Drives On Empty

[Verse 1]
She ties her hair back with a dollar-store clip
Half tank of gas, half pack of chips
Two car seats in that faded backseat row
Laundry in baskets, bills in a stack
Pink past-due stamp starin’ back
Still she hums along as the school bus rolls on by slow
[Chorus]
Mama drives on empty, but she never runs out
Of one more “you got this,” one more “we’ll work it out”
World keeps takin’, she keeps makin’
Somethin’ out of almost gone
She’s prayin’ in the porch light, fightin’ through the long nights
Lovin’ like she’s made of stone and song
Tank on E, eyes on three small faces
Mama’s broke in all the right places
But somehow, somehow
Mama drives on empty and still goes on
[Verse 2]
She clocks in early at the checkout line
Name tag crooked, but her smile shines
Counts every coupon like a quiet little prayer
Hand-me-down shoes on the kitchen floor
She’s cuttin’ off crusts, lockin’ the door
Says, “Eat up, baby, I already ate at work,” (she swears)
[Chorus]
Mama drives on empty, but she never runs out
Of birthday pancakes, paper crowns cut out
World keeps changin’, she’s rearrangin’
Dreams to fit this small-town lawn
She’s dancin’ in the dishes, laughin’ through the short checks
Tuckin’ in her heart in secondhand quilts ‘til dawn
Tank on E, eyes on three small faces
Mama’s tired in all the hard places
But somehow, somehow
Mama drives on empty and still goes on
[Bridge]
One day those car seats turn into keys
Little hands let go of her faded blue jeans
They’ll say, “How’d you do it?”
She’ll just smile, shrug, say
“I just loved you through it
Every hungry, holy day”
[Chorus]
Mama drives on empty, but she never runs out
Of quiet courage, soft-spoke faith and doubt
World keeps takin’, she keeps makin’
Miracles from worn-out palms
She’s singin’ in the hallway, patchin’ up the torn knees
Turnin’ every “can’t” into a “baby, just hold on”
Tank on E, eyes on three small faces
Mama’s rich in all the right places
Yeah somehow, somehow
Mama drives on empty
And still drives on

country, Warm country-pop ballad, midtempo groove with brushed drums and twangy electric. Start intimate with fingerpicked acoustic and soft male vocals; pedal steel threads through verses. Chorus opens wider with layered harmonies and steady kick, big emotional lift. Subtle organ pad in the bridge, final chorus slightly higher key for a cathartic, radio-ready climax., pop