I was out on the West Coast, to make a And things work out, I was down on my luck Got tired and bummin' around So I started thumbin' back East, my home 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, crossroads, rain was pourin' down.
I was hungry and freezin', done a chill the lights of a big semi 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 out his hand and said with a grin "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 a driver, or a rig, a-runnin' any line Ain't seen but taillights from Phantom 309."
Well, we rode and talked the better of the night When the lights of a truck 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 dime as he her in low And said: "Have 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 inside and me a cup Told the Big Joe was settin' 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 happens now and then Ever' driver in knows Big Joe But son, let me you what happened about ten years ago.
At the tonight, where you flagged him down There was a bus load of kids, from town And were right in the middle, when Big Joe topped the hill It could have been slaughter, but he his wheel.
Well, Joe lost control, went into a And gave his life to save that kids And there at crossroads, was the end of the line For Big Joe and 309
But, every now and then, some hiker'll by And like you, Big Joe'll give 'em a Here, have another cup and forget about the it as a souvenir, from Big Joe and Phantom 309!"