I was out on the West Coast, to make a And things didn't work out, I was down on my Got a-roamin' and bummin' around So I started thumbin' back East, 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 night I got stranded, way out of At a cold, lonely crossroads, was pourin' down.
I was hungry and freezin', caught a chill When the lights of a big topped the hill Lord, I sure was glad to hear them air brakes come on And I climbed in that cab, where I it'd be warm.
At the wheel sit a big man, he about two-ten He stuck out his and said 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 a name He said: "Son, old Mack can put 'em all to shame There ain't a driver, or a rig, a-runnin' any Ain't seen nothin' but taillights Phantom 309."
Well, we and talked the better part of the night 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 tossed me a as he pulled 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 the waiter Big Joe was settin' me up Aw!, you heard a pin drop, it got deathly quiet And the waiter's face kinda white.
Well, did I say wrong? I said with a halfway grin He said: "Naw, this happens now and then Ever' driver in knows Big Joe But son, let me tell you what happened about ten ago.
At the tonight, where you flagged him down There was a bus load of kids, comin' town And they were in the middle, when Big Joe topped the hill It have been slaughter, but he turned his wheel.
Well, Joe lost control, went into a 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, some come by And like you, Big Joe'll 'em a ride Here, have another cup and about the dime Keep it as a souvenir, Big Joe and Phantom 309!"