You Can Sleep While I Drive
Melissa Etheridge · Brave and Crazy [1989]
Come on baby let's get out of this town
I got a full tank of gas with the top rolled down
There's a chill in my bones
I don't want to be left alone
So baby you can sleep while I drive
I'll pack my bag and load up my guitar
In my pocket I'll carry my heart
I got some money I saved
Enough to get underway
And baby you can sleep while I drive
We'll go thorough Tucson up to Santa Fe
And Barbara in Nashville says we're welcome to stay
I'll buy you glasses in Texas a hat from New Orleans
And in the morning you can tell me your dreams
You know I've seen it before
This mist that covers your eyes
You've been looking for something
That's not in your life
My intentions are true
Won't you take me with you
And baby you can sleep while I drive
Oh is it other arms you want to hold you
the stranger
But lover you're free
Can't you get that with me
Come on baby let's get out of this town
I got a full tank of gas with the top rolled down
If you won't take me with you
I'll go before night is through
And baby you can sleep while I drive
I got a full tank of gas with the top rolled down
There's a chill in my bones
I don't want to be left alone
So baby you can sleep while I drive
I'll pack my bag and load up my guitar
In my pocket I'll carry my heart
I got some money I saved
Enough to get underway
And baby you can sleep while I drive
We'll go thorough Tucson up to Santa Fe
And Barbara in Nashville says we're welcome to stay
I'll buy you glasses in Texas a hat from New Orleans
And in the morning you can tell me your dreams
You know I've seen it before
This mist that covers your eyes
You've been looking for something
That's not in your life
My intentions are true
Won't you take me with you
And baby you can sleep while I drive
Oh is it other arms you want to hold you
the stranger
But lover you're free
Can't you get that with me
Come on baby let's get out of this town
I got a full tank of gas with the top rolled down
If you won't take me with you
I'll go before night is through
And baby you can sleep while I drive
You Can Sleep While I Drive
Released on Melissa Etheridge's 1989 album *Brave and Crazy*, "You Can Sleep While I Drive" stands as a defining anthem of the hard rock and blues rock genres. The track showcases Etheridge's signature raw vocal delivery and gritty guitar work, capturing the restless energy of her mid-career period. As a staple of her discography, the song reflects her ability to blend personal vulnerability with high-octane rock performance, resonating deeply with audiences who appreciate authentic, unfiltered expression. It remains a powerful representation of her contribution to the rock landscape of the late 1980s.