I was out on the West Coast, tryin' to make a buck

And things didn't work out, I was down on my luck

Got tired of roamin' and bummin' around

So I started thumbin' back East, toward my hometown

Made a lotta miles the first two days

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

But, the third night, I got stranded way outta town

At a cold, lonely crossroads, rain was pourin' down

I was hungry and freezin', 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

And 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", I told him mine

And he said, "The name of my rig is Phantom 309"

I asked him why he called his rig such a name

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

There ain't a driver, or a rig, a-runnin' any line

That's seen nothin' but tail-lights 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

And said,"Have yourself a cup on old Big Joe."

When Joe and his rig roared out into the night

In nothin' flat, he was clean outta sight

Well, I went inside and ordered me a cup

Told the waiter Big Joe was settin' me up

Aw, you coulda heard a pin drop, it got deathly quiet

And the waiter's face turned kinda white

"Well, did I say something wrong?" I said with a halfway grin

He said,"Naw, this happens every now and then

Every driver in here knows Big Joe

But son, let me tell you what happened about ten years ago

At the crossroads tonight, where you flagged him down

There was a busload of kids, a-comin' from town

And 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, went into a skid

And gave his life to save that bunch-a kids

And there at that crossroads, was the end of the line

For Big Joe and Phantom 309

But, every now and then, some hiker'll come by

And like you, Big Joe'll give 'em a ride

Here, have another cup and forget about the dime

Keep it as a souvenir, from Big Joe and Phantom 309!"