I was out on the Coast, tryin' to make a And didn't work out, I was down on my luck Got tired a-roamin' and bummin' So I started back East, toward 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 third night I got stranded, way out of At a cold, lonely crossroads, was pourin' down.
I was hungry and freezin', done caught a 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 about two-ten He out his hand and said with a grin "Big the name", I told him mine And he said: "The name of my rig is 309."
I him why he called his rig such a name He "Son, this old Mack can put 'em all to shame There ain't a driver, or a rig, a-runnin' any Ain't seen but taillights from Phantom 309."
Well, we rode and talked the better 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 gotta make a turn, 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 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 turned kinda white.
Well, did I say something wrong? I said with a grin He "Naw, this happens every now and then driver in here knows 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 right in the middle, when Big Joe topped the hill It have been slaughter, but he turned his wheel.
Well, Joe lost control, went a skid And gave his life to that bunch-a kids And there at that crossroads, was the end of the For Big Joe and 309
But, every now and then, some come by And like you, Big Joe'll give 'em a Here, have cup and forget about the dime it as a souvenir, from Big Joe and Phantom 309!"