I was out on the west coast trying to make a buck
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Things didn't work out I was kinda down on my luck
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Got tired of roaming and bumming around
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So I started thumbing back east toward my hometown
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Made a lot of miles the first two days
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I figured I'd be home in a week if my luck held this way
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But the third night I got stranded way outside of town
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At a cold lonely crossroad rain was pouring down
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I was hungry and I was freezing done caught a chill
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When the lights of a big semi topped the hill
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Lord I was sure glad to hear them air brakes come on
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And I climbed in that cab where I knew it would be warm
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At the wheel there sat a big man he weighed about 2-10
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He stuck out his hand and said with a grin
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Big Joe's the name I told him mine
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He said the name of my rig's Phantom 309
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I asked him why he called his rig such a name
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He said son this old Mack can put 'em all to shame
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There ain't no driver or a rig running any line
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That's seen nothing but tail lights from Phantom 309
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We rode and talked the best part of the night
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When the lights of a truck stop came in sight
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He said I'm sorry son this is as far as you go
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Cause I gotta make another turn just on up the road
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He tossed me a dime as he pulled her in low
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And said have yourself a hot cup old Big Joe
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When Joe and his rig roared out in the night
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In nothing flat he was clean out of sight
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I went inside and ordered me a cup
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Told the waiter Big Joe was setting me up
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You could've heard a pin drop
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It got deathly quiet and the waiter face turned kinda white
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Did I say something wrong I said with a half way grin
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He said no this happens every now and then
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Every driver in here knows Big Joe
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But son let me tell you what happened bout ten years ago
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At the crossroads tonight where you flagged him down
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There was a bus full of kids a comin' from town
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They were right in the middle when Joe tapped the hill
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It could have been slaughter but he turned his wheels
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Joe lost control went into a skid
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Gave his own life to save that bunch of kids
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And there at the crossroads was the end of the line
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For Big Joe and Phantom 309
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But every now and then some higher'll come by
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And like you Big Joe'll give 'em a ride
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Here have another cup and forget about that dime
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Keep it as a souvenir from Big Joe and Phantom 309
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Phantom 309
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Del Reeves |