I was on the West Coast,
trying to make a buck
and things didn't work out and I was out of luck.
Got tired a-roaming and bumpin' around.
So I started thumbin' back east, toward my home town.
Made alot of 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 out of town,
at a lonely cross road, rain was pouring down.
I was hungry and freezing,
done caught a chill when the lights
of a big semi topped the hill.
Lordy 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 two-ten.
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 old mack can put'em to shame.
There ain't a driver or a rig,
a-runnin' any line that ain't 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 got to make a turn, just 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 in the night,
in nothin' flat, he was clean out of sight.
Well, I went inside and ordered me a cup.
Told the waiter Big Joe was sittin' 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 half way grin.
He said Naw this happens every now and then.
Every driver is 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 bus load of kids,
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 wheel.
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!
