Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[mwey]

Hi teachers,

I have two questions continuing yesterday's Phantom 309:

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."

I know the song writer is trying to describe how proud Big Joe is about his rig. But I don't know what last sentence the song writer was trying to say.

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."

Again, when two prepositions are put back to back, I got lost. What picture 'turn "on" "up" the road' would give me?

Thanks

[pugachevV]

There ain't a driver, or a rig, a-runnin' any line
Ain't seen nothin' but taillights from Phantom 309."

It means that there is not a driver, or a truck, anywhere, that can keep up with Phantom 309.

'Cause, I gotta make a turn, just on up the road."

It means, "Because I have to make a turn a little further ahead."

He's turning off the road, away from where the hitch-hiker wants to go.

In some parts of the USA they often put in an unnecessary preposition, such as "on"