I was out on the Coast, tryin' to make a And things didn't out, I was down on my luck Got tired and bummin' around So I started thumbin' back East, toward my town.
Made a lot of miles, the first two And I figured I'd be in week, if my luck held out this way But, the night 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 topped the hill Lord, I sure was glad to hear them air brakes come on And I climbed in that cab, 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 him mine And he said: "The of my rig is Phantom 309."
I him why he called his rig such a name He said: "Son, this old Mack can put 'em all to There a driver, or a rig, a-runnin' any line Ain't seen nothin' but from Phantom 309."
Well, we rode and talked the better of the night When the of a truck stop came in sight He "I'm sorry son, this is as far as you go 'Cause, I make a turn, just on up the road."
Well, he tossed me a dime as he her in low And "Have yourself 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 went and ordered me a cup Told the Big Joe was settin' me up Aw!, you heard a pin drop, it got deathly quiet And the waiter's face turned white.
Well, did I say something wrong? I with a halfway grin He "Naw, this happens every now and then Ever' driver in knows Big Joe But son, let me tell you what about ten years ago.
At the tonight, where you flagged him down was a bus load of kids, comin' from town And they right in the middle, when Big Joe topped the hill It could have been slaughter, but he his wheel.
Well, Joe control, went into a skid 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 hiker'll 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!"