Phantom 309 Lyrics - Red Sovine

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 a-roamin' and bummin' around 

So I started thumbin' back East, toward my home town. 

Made a lot of 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 out of 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 sit 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 all to shame 

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

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 as 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 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 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 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!"