One piece at a time
One Piece at a Time is a country song written by Wayne Kemp and recorded by Johnny Cash in 1976 for his album of the same name. Produced by Charlie Bragg and Don Davis, the single, released in May 1976, became the final number-one hit Cashs in Billboard Country Songs . The song reached number 29 in the pop charts.
The text tells the story of a man who worked in assembly for the US automobile brand Cadillac in Detroit , Michigan , from 1949 . Every day he sees finished vehicles roll off the assembly line while he cannot afford one. He therefore decides to build his own car from parts that he stole from his workplace. A colleague helps him with this. In order not to attract attention, he only ever steals a few parts ( " GM wouldn't miss just one little piece" ). The song describes the strange problems that arise during assembly. Ultimately, the man succeeds in completing the car and can make his first trip with it. According to the lyrics, at least 24 years have passed by then.
Musically speaking, the piece is about rockabilly , the structure of which is very reminiscent of Cash's earlier hit and long-running hit A Boy Named Sue from 1969. Not only because the lyrics are humorous and sometimes sarcastic, but also because the majority of the lyrics are spoken by Cash.
Bruce Fitzpatrick, a car mogul in Nashville at the time , had been commissioned by the producers to recreate the vehicle described in the song for advertising purposes. The finished Cadillac stood in front of the "House of Cash" for years and could be viewed by visitors.
Individual evidence
- ^ Roland, Tom: The Billboard Book Of Number One Country Hits . New York City / New York: Billboard Books; London: Guinness Publishing Ltd., 1991, pp. 169f
- ^ Whitburn, Joel: Top Pop Singles 1955-1993 . Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Ltd., 1994, p. 96