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' East, toward 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 I got stranded, way out of town At a cold, lonely crossroads, rain was down.
I was and freezin', done caught a chill When the lights of a big semi topped the hill Lord, I sure was to hear them air brakes come on And I climbed in cab, where I knew it'd be warm.
At the wheel sit a big man, he weighed two-ten He stuck out his and said with a grin "Big Joe's the name", I told him 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 Mack can put 'em all to There ain't a driver, or a rig, any line Ain't seen but taillights from Phantom 309."
Well, we and talked the better part of the night When the lights of a truck stop came in He "I'm sorry son, this is as far as you go 'Cause, I gotta make a turn, 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 flat, he was clean out of sight.
Well, I went inside and me a cup the waiter Big Joe was settin' me up Aw!, you heard a pin drop, it got deathly quiet And the waiter's face turned white.
Well, did I say something wrong? I with a halfway grin He said: "Naw, this 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 him down There was a bus load of kids, comin' 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 a skid And gave his to save that bunch-a kids And at that 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 give 'em a ride Here, have another cup and forget the dime Keep it as a souvenir, from Big Joe and 309!"