I was out on the West Coast, tryin' to a And things didn't out, I was down on my luck 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 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 hungry and freezin', done caught a 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 that cab, where I knew be warm.
At the wheel sit a big man, he weighed about He out his hand and said with a grin "Big Joe's the name", I told him And he said: "The of my rig is Phantom 309."
I asked him why he called his rig a name He said: "Son, this old can put 'em all to shame There a driver, or a rig, a-runnin' any line Ain't seen but taillights from Phantom 309."
Well, we rode and talked the part of the night When the lights of a truck came in sight He said: "I'm son, this is as far as you go 'Cause, I gotta 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." When Joe and his rig roared out in the 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 coulda heard a pin drop, it got deathly And the waiter's face kinda white.
Well, did I say wrong? I said with a halfway grin He "Naw, this happens every now and then driver in here knows Big Joe But son, let me tell you what about ten years ago.
At the tonight, where you flagged him down There was a bus of kids, comin' from town And they were right in the middle, when Big Joe topped the It have been slaughter, but he turned his wheel.
Well, Joe lost control, went a skid And gave his life to save bunch-a kids And at that 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 Joe'll give 'em a Here, have cup and forget about the dime Keep it as a souvenir, Big Joe and Phantom 309!"