I was out on the Coast, tryin' to make a And things didn't work out, I was down on my Got tired and bummin' around So I started thumbin' back East, toward my town.
Made a lot of miles, the first two And I figured I'd be home in week, if my luck held out way But, the night I got stranded, way out of town At a cold, lonely crossroads, was pourin' down.
I was hungry and freezin', caught a chill When the lights of a big topped the hill Lord, I sure was glad to hear them air brakes come on And I in that cab, where I knew it'd be warm.
At the wheel sit a big man, he weighed two-ten He stuck out his hand and said with a "Big Joe's the name", I told him And he "The name of my rig is Phantom 309."
I him why he called his rig such a name He said: "Son, old Mack can put 'em all to shame There a driver, or a rig, a-runnin' any line Ain't seen nothin' but from Phantom 309."
Well, we rode and talked the part of the night When the of a truck stop came in sight He "I'm sorry son, this is as far as you go 'Cause, I make a turn, just on up the road."
Well, he tossed me a 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 flat, he was clean out of sight.
Well, I went and ordered me a cup Told the Big Joe was settin' me up Aw!, you coulda a pin drop, it got deathly quiet And the waiter's face turned white.
Well, did I say something wrong? I said with a halfway He said: "Naw, this happens every now and Ever' driver in here Big Joe But son, let me tell you what happened ten years ago.
At the crossroads tonight, where you flagged him There was a bus of kids, comin' from 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 save bunch-a kids And at that crossroads, was the end of the line For Big Joe and 309
But, every now and then, some come by And like you, Big Joe'll give 'em a Here, have another cup and forget about the Keep it as a souvenir, from Big Joe and 309!"