I was out on the west coast trying to make a buck

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

Got tired of roaming and bumming around

So I started thumbing back east toward my hometown

Made a lot of miles the first two days

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

But the third night I got stranded way outside of town

At a cold lonely crossroad rain was pouring down

I was hungry and I was freezing done caught a chill

When the lights of a big semi topped the hill

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

And I climbed in that cab where I knew it would be warm

At the wheel there sat a big man he weighed about 2-10

He stuck out his hand and said with a grin

Big Joe's the name I told him mine

He said the name of my rig's Phantom 309

I asked him why he called his rig such a name

He said son this old Mack can put 'em all to shame

There ain't no driver or a rig running any line

That's seen nothing but tail lights from Phantom 309

We rode and talked the best part of the night

When the lights of a truck stop came in sight

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

Cause I gotta make another turn just on up the road

He tossed me a dime as he pulled her in low

And said have yourself a hot cup old Big Joe

When Joe and his rig roared out in the night

In nothing flat he was clean out of sight

I went inside and ordered me a cup

Told the waiter Big Joe was setting me up

You could've heard a pin drop

It got deathly quiet and the waiter face turned kinda white

Did I say something wrong I said with a half way grin

He said no this happens every now and then

Every driver in here knows Big Joe

But son let me tell you what happened bout ten years ago

At the crossroads tonight where you flagged him down

There was a bus full of kids a comin' from town

They were right in the middle when Joe tapped the hill

It could have been slaughter but he turned his wheels

Joe lost control went into a skid

Gave his own life to save that bunch of kids

And there at the crossroads was the end of the line

For Big Joe and Phantom 309

But every now and then some higher'll come by

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

Here have another cup and forget about that dime

Keep it as a souvenir from Big Joe and Phantom 309