Things didn't work out an' I was down on my luck

Got tired of roamin' and bummin' around

So I started thumbin' back east toward my home town

Now I made a lotta miles the first few days

I figured I'd be home in a week if my luck held out this way

But the third night out I got stranded way out of town

At a cold lonely crossroads: rain was pouring down

I was hungry an' freezin' an' done caught a chill

When the lights of a big semi topped the hill

Lord I sure was glad to hear them air brakes come on

An 'I climbed in that cab where I knew it'd be warm

At the wheel sat a big man he weighed about 210

He stuck out his hand and said with a grin:

"Big Joe's the name " an' I told him mine

He said: "The name of my rig is Phantom 309 "

Well I asked him why he called his rig such a name

He said: "Son this ol' Mac can put 'em all to shame

"Well there ain't a driver or rig runnin any line

"That's seen nothin' but taillights from Phantom 309 "

Well we rode and talked the better part of the night

When the lights of a truck stop came in sight

He said: "I'm sorry son this is far as you go

"'Cause I gotta make a turn just on up the road "

Well he tossed me a dime as he pulled her in low

An' said: "Have yourself a hot cup on old Big Joe "

When Joe an' his rig roared out into the night

Iin nothing flat he was clean outta sight

Well I went inside an' ordered me a cup

An' told the waiter Big Joe was a-settin' me up

Aw you could of heard a pin drop: it got deathly quiet

An' the waiter's face turned kinda white

"Well did I say somethin' wrong " I said with a half way grin

He said: "Naw " This happened every now an' then

"Every driver in here knows Big Joe

"But son let me tell you what happened about 10 years ago

"At the crossroads tonight where you flagged him down

"There was a bus load of kids a-comin' from town

"An' they were right in the middle when Big Joe topped the hill

"It could have been slaughter but he turned his wheels

"Well Joe lost control an' went into a skid |

"Gave his life to save that bunch of kids

"There at that crossroads was the end of the line

"Fore Big Joe an' Phantom 309

"But every now and then some hiker will come by

"An' like you Big Joe will give him a ride

"Here have another cup an' forget about the dime

"Keep it as a souvenier from Big Joe and Phantom 309 "