Alan Jackson – Livin’ On Empty

Introduction:

“Livin’ on Empty” by Alan Jackson is a track from his 2021 album Where Have You Gone. The song touches on themes of emotional fatigue, perseverance, and the toll that life’s challenges can take on relationships. Jackson’s characteristic ability to speak to the everyday struggles of the working class shines through, depicting a couple struggling to hold things together amidst exhaustion and strained love. The lyrics evoke powerful imagery of “holding it all together with whiskey and glue,” symbolizing the coping mechanisms people often turn to in tough times.

Despite its melancholic tone, “Livin’ on Empty” carries an undercurrent of hope. It acknowledges the difficulties, but there’s a resilient spirit woven throughout. The song’s message extends beyond romantic love to anyone feeling burnt out or overwhelmed by life’s demands, offering solace in the idea that even when it feels like there’s nothing left, there may still be a path forward.

This reflective, soul-baring track fits well within Jackson’s broader body of work, where he frequently explores themes of love, loss, and endurance with an authentic country sound that remains true to his roots.

Video:

Lyrics:

“Livin’ On Empty”

Livin’ on empty, lovin’ on fumes
Trying to hold it all together with whiskey and glue
Like we’ve been on pause too long
Need to find the resume
Livin’ on empty, lovin’ on fumesWhen the honeymoon ends, real life moves in
You wake up in the mornin’, sometimes it’s coffee and gin
Hard to keep it all runnin’ smooth
Stuck in that day-to-day groove
Livin’ on empty, lovin’ on fumes

Yeah, livin’ on empty, lovin’ on fumes
Trying to hold it all together with whiskey and glue
Like we’ve been on pause too long
Need to find the resume
Livin’ on empty, lovin’ on fumes, yeah

So you keep on poundin’, like a hammer to the stone
Yeah, you keep on swingin’ till the rock is all gone
You just do the best you can do
And maybe that sky will turn a little blue
Livin’ on empty, lovin’ on fumes

Yeah, we’re livin’ on empty, lovin’ on fumes
Trying to hold it all together with whiskey and glue
Like we’ve been on pause too long
Need to find the resume
Livin’ on empty, lovin’ on fumes

You both love each other
Lord knows that you do
But you’re livin’ on empty, lovin’ on fumes

Yeah, you’re livin’ on empty, lovin’ on fumes
Trying to hold it all together with whiskey and glue
Like we’ve been on pause too long
Need to find the resume
Livin’ on empty, lovin’ on fumes
Yeah, livin’ on empty and lovin’ on fumes