I was out on the Coast, tryin' to make a And things work out, I was down on my luck Got tired and bummin' around So I started thumbin' East, toward my home town.
Made a lot of miles, the two days 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, rain was down.
I was hungry and freezin', done caught a When the lights of a big semi the hill Lord, I sure was glad to hear them air brakes come on And I climbed in that cab, I knew it'd be warm.
At the wheel sit a big man, he about two-ten He stuck out his hand and said a grin "Big the name", I told him mine 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 taillights Phantom 309."
Well, we rode and talked the part of the night When the lights of a truck stop 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 me a dime as he pulled her in low And said: "Have a cup on old Big Joe." When Joe and his rig out in the night In flat, he was clean out of sight.
Well, I inside 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 turned white.
Well, did I say something wrong? I said with a halfway He said: "Naw, this every now and then Ever' driver in 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 of kids, comin' from town And they were right in the middle, when Big Joe the hill It could have slaughter, but he turned his wheel.
Well, Joe control, went into a skid And his life to save that bunch-a kids And there at 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 'em a ride Here, have another cup and forget about the Keep it as a souvenir, Big Joe and Phantom 309!"