Phantom 309 lyrics

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 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 airbrakes 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 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
Ever' 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!"