I was out on the West Coast, to make a And things didn't out, I was down on my luck Got tired a-roamin' and around So I started thumbin' back East, my home town.
Made a lot of miles, the two days And I I'd be home in week, if my luck held out this way But, the third night I got stranded, way out of At a cold, lonely crossroads, rain was down.
I was hungry and freezin', caught a chill When the lights of a big semi topped the hill Lord, I sure was glad to hear air brakes come on And I climbed in that cab, where I knew 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 him mine And he said: "The of my rig is Phantom 309."
I him why he called his rig such a name He said: "Son, this old can put 'em all to shame There ain't a driver, or a rig, a-runnin' any seen nothin' but taillights from Phantom 309."
Well, we rode and talked the better of the night When the lights of a stop came in sight He said: "I'm 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." Joe and his rig roared out in the night In nothin' flat, he was out of sight.
Well, I went and ordered me a cup Told the waiter Big Joe was me up Aw!, you coulda heard a pin drop, it got quiet And the waiter's face kinda white.
Well, did I say something wrong? I said with a halfway He said: "Naw, this every now and then Ever' driver in here Big Joe But son, let me tell you what happened about ten ago.
At the tonight, where you flagged 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 save bunch-a kids And at that crossroads, was the end of the line For Big Joe and 309
But, now and then, some hiker'll come by And like you, Big Joe'll 'em a ride Here, have another cup and forget about the it as a souvenir, from Big Joe and Phantom 309!"