About the song
Let’s embark on a journey through the whimsical world of country music with the classic tune “One Piece at a Time,” brought to life by the legendary Johnny Cash. Penned by Wayne Kemp and recorded by Cash in 1976, this song is a delightful tale of ambition, ingenuity, and a dash of humor.
Featured on Cash’s album “One Piece at a Time,” released in the same year, this catchy track quickly captured the imagination of listeners far and wide. Its clever lyrics and infectious melody earned it widespread acclaim, propelling it to the top of the charts.
“One Piece at a Time” tells the story of a working-class man with a dream of owning a Cadillac. Faced with the reality of his modest means, he devises a cunning plan to assemble his dream car, one piece at a time, from the factory where he works. The song’s playful narrative and Cash’s charismatic delivery make for a truly unforgettable listening experience.
Upon its release, “One Piece at a Time” soared to the number one spot on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, solidifying its status as a chart-topping hit. Its success further cemented Cash’s reputation as a trailblazer in the world of country music.
Decades later, “One Piece at a Time” remains a beloved favorite among fans of Cash and country music alike. Its timeless appeal and enduring popularity serve as a testament to Cash’s lasting legacy as one of the genre’s most iconic figures. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the delightful tale of “One Piece at a Time” as we take a trip down memory lane with the Man in Black himself.
Video
Lyrics
Well, I left Kentucky back in ’49
An’ went to Detroit workin’ on a ‘sembly line
The first year they had me puttin’ wheels on Cadillacs
Every day I’d watch them beauties roll by
And sometimes I’d hang my head and cry
‘Cause I always wanted me one that was long and black
One day I devised myself a plan
That should be the envy of most any man
I’d sneak it out of there in a lunchbox in my hand
Now gettin’ caught meant gettin’ fired
But I figured I’d have it all by the time I retired
I’d have me a car worth at least a hundred grand
I’d get it one piece at a time and it wouldn’t cost me a dime
You’ll know it’s me when I come through your town
I’m gonna ride around in style, I’m gonna drive everybody wild
‘Cause I’ll have the only one there is a round
So the very next day when I punched in
With my big lunchbox and with help from my friends
I left that day with a lunch box full of gears
I’ve never considered myself a thief
But GM wouldn’t miss just one little piece
Especially if I strung it out over several years
The first day I got me a fuel pump
And the next day I got me an engine and a trunk
Then I got me a transmission and all of the chrome
The little things I could get in my big lunchbox
Like nuts, an’ bolts, and all four shocks
But the big stuff we snuck out in my buddy’s mobile home
Now, up to now my plan went all right
‘Til we tried to put it all together one night
And that’s when we noticed that something was definitely wrong
The transmission was a ’53 and the motor turned out to be a ’73
And when we tried to put in the bolts all the holes were gone
So we drilled it out so that it would fit
And with a little bit of help with an adapter kit
We had that engine runnin’ just like a song
Now the headlight’ was another sight
We had two on the left and one on the right
But when we pulled out the switch all three of ’em come on
The back end looked kinda funny too
But we put it together and when we got through
Well, that’s when we noticed that we only had one tail-fin
About that time my wife walked out
And I could see in her eyes that she had her doubts
But she opened the door and said, “Honey, take me for a spin”
So we drove up town just to get the tags
And I headed her right on down main drag
I could hear everybody laughin’ for blocks around
But up there at the court house they didn’t laugh
‘Cause to type it up it took the whole staff
And when they got through the title weighed sixty pounds
I got it one piece at a time and it didn’t cost me a dime
You’ll know it’s me when I come through your town
I’m gonna ride around in style, I’m gonna drive everybody wild
‘Cause I’ll have the only one there is around
Uh yow, Red Ryder, this is the cotton mouth
In the Psycho-Billy Cadillac come on, huh, this is the cotton mouth
And negatory on the cost of this mow-chine there Red Ryder
You might say I went right up to the factory
And picked it up, it’s cheaper that way
Uh, what model is it?
Well, it’s a ’49, ’50, ’51, ’52, ’53, ’54, ’55, ’56
’57, ’58’ 59′ automobile
It’s a ’60, ’61, ’62, ’63, ’64, ’65, ’66, ’67
’68, ’69, ’70 automobile