[Verse 1] (Cody - Low, strained, and exhausted vocal) The dash light flashed yellow three weeks ago I pushed the gas harder just to keep the car going slow I told myself I had another fifty miles to find the strength But the battery died trying to go the whole length I was driving on fumes, I was driving on coffee and pride Now the engine is cold and there's nowhere left to hide I can see the city lights, the finish line in view But I pulled over on the curb and I can't move. [Pre-Chorus] (Cody - Voice rising, frustration mounting) I kept the windows up, blocked out the noise and the sound Pretended I was fine, while my whole world broke down My own private disaster, nowhere to call for help I pushed past the limits of everything I ever felt! [Chorus] (HUGE, stadium rock chorus, full emotional power) I'm Running On Empty! I hit the redline and the whole thing sank! I put too much pressure on the frame and the steel Now the engine is smoking, and the pain is too real! I'm Running On Empty! I burned through the credit, I crashed on the bank! The machine shut down, now I'm alone in the dark Left stranded on the highway with a fractured heart! [Verse 2] (Eli - Slow, spoken-word rap over a building rhythm section) I checked the fluids, I checked the wires, I checked the spark Every piece of metal fighting in the dark They told me to keep driving, told me to stay on pace But there's nothing left to give in this desperate race I used up all the fuel, I used up all the nerve Now I’m stuck on the shoulder, waiting for the curb I gave everything I had, every single drop I got nothing left to offer when the pistons finally stop. [Pre-Chorus] (Cody - Voice rising, frustration mounting) I kept the windows up, blocked out the noise and the sound Pretended I was fine, while my whole world broke down My own private disaster, nowhere to call for help I pushed past the limits of everything I ever felt! [Chorus] (HUGE, stadium rock chorus, full emotional power) I'm Running On Empty! I hit the redline and the whole thing sank! I put too much pressure on the frame and the steel Now the engine is smoking, and the pain is too real! I'm Running On Empty! I burned through the credit, I crashed on the bank! The machine shut down, now I'm alone in the dark Left stranded on the highway with a fractured heart! [Bridge] (Music slows to a stark, isolated piano/guitar chord sequence) (Eli - Angry, frustrated spoken word, slightly distorted) They told me "keep pushing!" They said "You're built to last!" They stamped the warranty void when I tried to slow down too fast! This isn't my breakdown, this is their design! They built the system to fail, then blamed the driver for crossing the line! (Music starts to build back slowly, drums kick in with a heavy roll) (Cody - Shouted, strained vocal) I'm not a machine! I'm not a perfect part! I'm just a human being with a fractured heart! [Chorus] (HUGE, stadium rock chorus, full emotional power) I'm Running On Empty! I hit the redline and the whole thing sank! I put too much pressure on the frame and the steel Now the engine is smoking, and the pain is too real! I'm Running On Empty! I burned through the credit, I crashed on the bank! The machine shut down, now I'm alone in the dark Left stranded on the highway with a fractured heart!
