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 bummin' So I started back East, toward my home town.
Made a lot of miles, the first two 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, was pourin' down.
I was and freezin', done caught a chill When the lights of a big semi topped the hill Lord, I sure was glad to hear 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 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 such a He "Son, this old Mack can put 'em all to shame There ain't a driver, or a rig, 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 stop came in He said: "I'm sorry son, 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 "Have yourself 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 and ordered 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 turned white.
Well, did I say something wrong? I with a halfway grin He said: "Naw, this happens every now and Ever' in here knows Big Joe But son, let me tell you happened about ten years ago.
At the crossroads tonight, where you flagged him There was a bus load of kids, from town And they were in the middle, when Big Joe topped the hill It have been slaughter, but he turned his wheel.
Well, Joe control, went 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 the dime Keep it as a souvenir, from Big Joe and 309!"