I was out on the West Coast, to make a And things didn't work out, I was on my luck Got a-roamin' and bummin' around So I started back East, toward my home town.
a lot of miles, the first two days And I figured I'd be home in week, if my held out this 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 them air brakes come on And I climbed in that cab, I knew it'd be warm.
At the wheel sit a big man, he weighed two-ten He stuck out his hand and with a grin "Big the name", I told him mine And he "The name of my rig is Phantom 309."
I him why he called his rig such a name He said: "Son, old Mack can put 'em all to shame There ain't a driver, or a rig, any line Ain't seen nothin' but from Phantom 309."
Well, we rode and the better part of the night the lights of a truck 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 "Have yourself 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 inside 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 face turned white.
Well, did I say something wrong? I with a halfway grin He said: "Naw, happens every now and then Ever' in here knows Big Joe But son, let me tell you what about ten years ago.
At the crossroads tonight, you flagged him down There was a bus load of kids, from town And they were right in the middle, Big Joe topped the hill It could been slaughter, but he turned his wheel.
Well, Joe lost control, went into a And gave his life to save bunch-a kids And there at crossroads, was the end of the line For Big Joe and 309
But, every now and then, some come by And you, Big Joe'll give 'em a ride Here, have another cup and forget about the Keep it as a souvenir, Big Joe and Phantom 309!"