I was out on the West Coast, tryin' to a And didn't work out, I was down on my luck Got tired a-roamin' and bummin' So I started thumbin' back East, my home town.
Made a lot of miles, the first two And I figured I'd be in week, if my luck held out this way But, the night I got stranded, way out of town At a cold, lonely crossroads, rain was down.
I was and freezin', done caught a chill When the lights of a big semi topped the hill Lord, I sure was glad to hear them air brakes on And I climbed in cab, where I knew it'd be warm.
At the sit a big man, he weighed about two-ten He stuck out his hand and with a grin "Big Joe's the name", I told him And he "The name of my rig is Phantom 309."
I asked him why he his rig such a name He said: "Son, this old can put 'em all to shame There ain't a driver, or a rig, any line Ain't seen but taillights from Phantom 309."
Well, we rode and talked the part of the night When the lights of a truck stop came in He said: "I'm son, this is as far as you go 'Cause, I make a turn, just on up the road."
Well, he me a dime as he pulled her in low And "Have yourself a cup on old Big Joe." When Joe and his rig roared out in the In nothin' flat, he was out of sight.
Well, I inside and ordered me a cup the waiter Big Joe was settin' me up Aw!, you coulda a pin drop, it got deathly quiet And the waiter's face kinda white.
Well, did I say something I said with a halfway grin He said: "Naw, this happens every now and driver in here knows Big Joe But son, let me tell you what about ten years ago.
At the crossroads tonight, where you him down There was a bus load of kids, comin' town And they were right in the middle, when Big Joe topped the It have been slaughter, but he turned his wheel.
Well, Joe lost control, went into a And gave his life to that bunch-a kids And at that crossroads, was the end of the line For Big Joe and 309
But, every now and then, hiker'll come by And like you, Big give 'em a ride Here, another cup and forget about the dime Keep it as a souvenir, from Big Joe and 309!"