I was out on the West Coast, to make a And things didn't work out, I was on my luck Got tired a-roamin' and around So I started back East, toward my home town.
a lot of miles, the first 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, crossroads, rain was pourin' down.
I was and freezin', done 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 sit a big man, he weighed about two-ten He out his hand and said with a grin "Big Joe's the name", I told him And he "The name of my rig is Phantom 309."
I him why he called his rig such a name He "Son, this old Mack can put 'em all to shame There a driver, or a rig, a-runnin' any line Ain't seen nothin' but from Phantom 309."
Well, we rode and talked the part of the night When the of a truck stop came in sight He said: "I'm son, this is as far as you go 'Cause, I gotta make a turn, 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 Told the waiter Big Joe was me up Aw!, you coulda heard a pin drop, it got deathly And the waiter's face turned white.
Well, did I say wrong? I said with a halfway grin He said: "Naw, this happens every now and Ever' driver in knows Big Joe But son, let me you what happened about ten years ago.
At the crossroads tonight, where you flagged him There was a bus load of kids, comin' from And they were in the middle, when Big Joe topped the hill It could have been slaughter, but he his wheel.
Well, Joe lost control, went a skid And gave his life to save that 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 forget the dime it as a souvenir, from Big Joe and Phantom 309!"