The song Melinda by James McMurtry is about a man who is feeling lost and unsure about his life. He asks Melinda to join him on a walk in the morning mist, hoping to find a way out of his doubts. He acknowledges that his judgement is shaky and he hasn't been able to make sense of her yet. As they walk, they encounter the same strangers that watch the midnight angels fold their wings by dawn. He lets the night unravel and feels the gray rock gravel beneath his feet, forgetting his vain pursuits. He wants to walk with Melinda in the changing light, chasing away the ghosts that kept him out all night. The man is aware that people wonder and curse about them, but he doesn't care. He wants Melinda to shine her eyes upon him and whisper long and low, mindful of the longing that they may always know. As they climb up the ridge, he points out the stacks of Danville, hoping she'll join him there. Overall, the song is about a man's search for meaning and how he finds comfort in Melinda's presence. It's a nostalgic and wistful song about lost people finding solace in each other's company.
