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 bummin' So I started thumbin' back East, my home town.
Made a lot of miles, the two days And I figured I'd be in week, if my luck held out this way But, the third I got stranded, way out of town At a cold, crossroads, rain was pourin' down.
I was hungry and freezin', caught a chill When the lights of a big semi topped the hill Lord, I sure was glad to hear them air brakes 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 said a grin "Big the name", I told him mine And he said: "The name of my rig is 309."
I him why he called 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 but taillights from Phantom 309."
Well, we rode and talked the better part of the the lights of a truck stop came in sight He said: "I'm son, this is as far as you go 'Cause, I make a turn, just on up the road."
Well, he me a dime as he pulled 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 heard a pin drop, it got deathly quiet And the face turned kinda white.
Well, did I say something wrong? I said a halfway grin He said: "Naw, happens every now and then Ever' driver in knows Big Joe But son, let me tell you what happened ten years ago.
At the tonight, where you flagged him down There was a bus load of kids, comin' town And they right in the middle, when 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 that crossroads, was the end of the 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 about the dime it as a souvenir, from Big Joe and Phantom 309!"