I was out on the Coast, tryin' to make a And didn't work out, I was down on my luck Got tired a-roamin' and bummin' So I started thumbin' back East, toward my town.
Made a lot of miles, the first two And I figured I'd be home in week, if my luck 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 semi topped the hill Lord, I sure was to hear them air brakes come on And I climbed in that cab, where I it'd be warm.
At the wheel sit a big man, he weighed two-ten He stuck out his and said with a grin "Big Joe's the name", I told him And he said: "The name of my rig is 309."
I asked him why he called his rig such a He said: "Son, this old Mack can put 'em all to There ain't a driver, or a rig, a-runnin' any Ain't seen nothin' but taillights from 309."
Well, we rode and talked the part of the night When the lights of a truck came in sight He "I'm sorry son, this is as far as you go 'Cause, I gotta 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." When Joe and his rig out in the night In flat, he was clean 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 quiet And the waiter's face kinda white.
Well, did I say something wrong? I said with a grin He said: "Naw, this happens now and then Ever' driver in knows Big Joe But son, let me tell you what happened ten years ago.
At the tonight, where you flagged him down There was a bus load of kids, from town And they right in the middle, when Big Joe topped the hill It could have slaughter, but he turned his wheel.
Well, Joe lost control, went a skid And gave his life to that bunch-a 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 cup and forget about the dime Keep it as a souvenir, Big Joe and Phantom 309!"