I was out on the West Coast, to make a And things didn't work out, I was down on my Got tired a-roamin' and around So I started back 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 out this way But, the night I got stranded, way out of town At a cold, lonely crossroads, was pourin' down.
I was and freezin', done caught a chill When the lights of a big semi topped the 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 stuck out his hand and said a grin "Big Joe's the name", I him mine And he said: "The of my rig is Phantom 309."
I asked him why he 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 Ain't seen nothin' but from Phantom 309."
Well, we rode and talked the part of the night When the lights of a truck came in sight He "I'm sorry son, this is as far as you go 'Cause, I gotta 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 went inside and me a cup Told the waiter Big Joe was me up Aw!, you heard a pin drop, it got deathly quiet And the waiter's face turned white.
Well, did I say wrong? I said with a halfway grin He "Naw, this happens every now and then Ever' driver in knows Big Joe But son, let me tell you what happened ten years ago.
At the crossroads tonight, you flagged him down was a bus load of kids, comin' from town And they were right in the middle, Big Joe topped the hill It could have been slaughter, but he his wheel.
Well, Joe lost control, went a skid And his life to save 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 another cup and forget about the Keep it as a souvenir, Big Joe and Phantom 309!"