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 thumbin' back East, toward my 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 When the lights of a big semi topped the hill Lord, I sure was glad to hear them air come on And I in that cab, where I knew it'd be warm.
At the sit a big man, he weighed about two-ten He stuck out his hand and with a grin "Big the name", I told him mine And he said: "The name of my rig is 309."
I asked him why he called his rig such a He said: "Son, this old can put 'em all to shame There ain't a driver, or a rig, any line seen nothin' but taillights from Phantom 309."
Well, we rode and the better part of the night When the lights of a stop came in sight He "I'm sorry 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." Joe and his rig roared out in the night In nothin' flat, he was out of sight.
Well, I inside and ordered me a cup Told the Big Joe was settin' me up Aw!, you coulda heard a pin drop, it got deathly And the waiter's face kinda white.
Well, did I say something wrong? I with a halfway grin He said: "Naw, happens every now and then Ever' driver in knows Big Joe But son, let me you what happened about ten years ago.
At the crossroads tonight, where you him down There was a bus of kids, comin' from town And they were in the middle, when Big Joe topped the hill It could have slaughter, but he turned his wheel.
Well, Joe lost control, into a skid And gave his 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, hiker'll come by And like you, Big give 'em a ride Here, have another cup and forget about the Keep it as a souvenir, Big Joe and Phantom 309!"