Johnny Cash – One Piece at a Time

About The Song

“One Piece at a Time” was written by Wayne Kemp in 1976, inspired by a humorous concept about an autoworker stealing car parts to build a unique vehicle. Johnny Cash recorded the song on March 5, 1976, at House of Cash Studios in Hendersonville, Tennessee, produced by Charlie Bragg. It was released as a single in April 1976 by Columbia Records, with “Go On Blues” as the B-side, and included on the album of the same name, released in May 1976. The track, running 4:04, is a country novelty song featuring Cash’s spoken-word delivery, the Tennessee Three’s steady rhythm, and a playful narrative about assembling a “psychobilly Cadillac” from stolen parts.

The single entered the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart at number 46 on April 24, 1976, peaking at number 1 on June 12, 1976, for one week, and charted for 16 weeks. It also reached number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 6 on the Adult Contemporary chart, and number 1 in Canada’s RPM Country Tracks. Internationally, it peaked at number 12 in Australia. The song sold over 500,000 copies, earning a gold record certification. Cash Box praised its “wry humor” and “catchy storytelling,” noting its appeal to both country and pop audiences. The track earned a Grammy nomination for Best Country Vocal Performance, Male, in 1977.

Background details include Kemp’s inspiration from a story about factory workers pilfering small parts, which he turned into a lighthearted tale of ambition and ingenuity. Cash, drawn to its humor, recorded it during a prolific period after his gospel-focused years. The session featured Luther Perkins’ guitar, Marshall Grant’s bass, and W.S. Holland’s drums, with added sound effects mimicking a car’s engine. Covers include versions by Tub Ring (2002) and The Cleverlys (2011). Cash performed it on The Johnny Cash Show in 1976 and at the 1976 CMA Awards. No controversies surrounded the song, though its comedic tone surprised some fans expecting Cash’s darker style. Its narrative inspired a 1980s fan-made Cadillac replica, displayed at the Johnny Cash Museum.

Expert commentary includes AllMusic’s Mark Deming, who called it a “hilarious, quintessential Cash story-song” that showcased his storytelling prowess. Songfacts noted its role in reviving Cash’s chart success in the 1970s. Rolling Stone praised its “tongue-in-cheek charm,” likening it to a country music tall tale. The song’s inclusion in the 1976 album, which reached number 2 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, and its use in media like a 2004 episode of My Name Is Earl and the 2013 game Grand Theft Auto V underscore its enduring popularity. Its live performance at Cash’s 1976 Folsom Prison revisit added to its legacy, with inmates cheering the rebellious narrative.

Video

Lyric

Well, I left Kentucky back in ’49
And went to Detroit workin’ on the assembly 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 around

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 full of gears
Now I 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 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 somethin’ 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 headlights, they 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 courthouse 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’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 around