A Wednesday Car
Johnny Cash Lyrics


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The assembly line is runnin' slow on Monday
They've been livin' it up and layin' up Saturday and Sunday
On Tuesday they're about to come around
But they still feel bad and they're kinda down
And mad cause they've got four more day before the weekend rolls around
On Wednesday they're feelin' fine again
And they're workin' like a dog and diggin' in
Tryin' to do everything they should puttin' 'em cars together good
And I got me a car that was made on Wednesday on Wednesday
If you're gonna boy yourself a new car
You just better hope you're lucky enough to get one made on Wednesday

On Thursday the weekend is in sight
And they're in a hurry and they don't do nothing right
Friday is the worst day of the week that's the day they make lemons dogs and freaks
If your car was made on Friday friend you'll soon be in the creek
Cause it's payday and the loafin' has begun
Lord them Friday cars just hope you don't get one
Monday Tuesday Thursday and Friday
Are all bad days and the only try day is Wednesday
And my car was made on Wednesday on Wednesday
If your car wasn't made on Wednesday I'd advise you not to even leave home any

There's a police car behind us man

So

He's right behind us

So what

Is he lookin' at us do you think he saw me

Hey relax he turned off what's all the fuss about

What would the Phoenix police of you anyway she's really crazy man

She may be worse than crazy

What's with you cowgirl you stole a pinball machine or somethin'

Don't be funny I never stole nothin' I killed my own man

Ah let me see now the bus station ought to be straigh ahead downtown
Where you can probably get out

Oh please don't make get out

You say you killed somebody

I had to man please don't turn me in

There's a bus station right over there boy we sure can pick 'em





He treated me like dirt I loved him lived with him all that time
I was true to him I tried to warn him he just laughed at me

Overall Meaning

In this song, Johnny Cash comments on the different attitudes that people have towards work and the days of the week. He uses the example of car manufacturing, describing how the workers start off feeling sluggish after the weekend, pick up momentum on Wednesday, and then rush to finish on Friday, resulting in inferior products. The lyrics suggest that if you want to buy a good car, you should aim for one that was made on Wednesday. The song also includes a conversation between two people, one of whom has killed her partner and is on the run from the police.


The lyrics are a commentary on the nature of work and productivity, suggesting that people have a natural rhythm that corresponds to the days of the week. Johnny Cash seems to be saying that Wednesday is the sweet spot, when people have recovered from their weekend hangovers and are ready to put in some solid work. He also implies that there is a correlation between how well people work and the quality of the products they produce.


The conversation that takes place in the middle of the song is somewhat jarring and adds an element of danger to the narrative. It suggests that the world Johnny Cash is describing is not a safe or stable one, where people can easily slip into committing crimes or acting irrationally.


Line by Line Meaning

The assembly line is runnin' slow on Monday
The production process is slow on a Monday


They've been livin' it up and layin' up Saturday and Sunday
The workers have been enjoying their weekend and not working


On Tuesday they're about to come around
On Tuesday, the workers are starting to recover from their weekend


But they still feel bad and they're kinda down
Despite their recovery, they still feel the effects of their weekend


And mad cause they've got four more day before the weekend rolls around
They are upset because they still have four more workdays before their next weekend


On Wednesday they're feelin' fine again
By Wednesday, the workers have recovered and feel good again


And they're workin' like a dog and diggin' in
They are working hard and putting in a lot of effort


Tryin' to do everything they should puttin' 'em cars together good
They are making sure they are building the cars correctly


And I got me a car that was made on Wednesday on Wednesday
The singer has a car that was built on a Wednesday


If you're gonna boy yourself a new car
If you're going to buy yourself a new car


You just better hope you're lucky enough to get one made on Wednesday
It is best to hope that the car you get is built on a Wednesday


On Thursday the weekend is in sight
By Thursday, the workers can see their upcoming weekend


And they're in a hurry and they don't do nothing right
On Thursday, the workers are in a rush and make mistakes


Friday is the worst day of the week that's the day they make lemons dogs and freaks
Fridays are the worst day to build cars, and the resulting cars are poor quality


If your car was made on Friday friend you'll soon be in the creek
If your car is built on a Friday, it is likely to have issues and break down soon


Cause it's payday and the loafin' has begun
On payday, the workers slack off and do not work as hard


Lord them Friday cars just hope you don't get one
It is best to avoid cars that are built on Fridays


Monday Tuesday Thursday and Friday
These are all difficult days for workers building cars


Are all bad days and the only try day is Wednesday
Only Wednesdays are good days to build cars


There's a police car behind us man
The singer notices a police car is following them


He's right behind us
The police car is directly behind them


So what
The singer is not concerned by the police car's presence


Is he lookin' at us do you think he saw me
The singer is worried that the police saw them


Hey relax he turned off what's all the fuss about
The police car has turned off and there is no reason to worry


What would the Phoenix police of you anyway she's really crazy man
The singer is questioning what the police might want from them and is commenting on the passenger's behavior


She may be worse than crazy
The passenger may have serious issues or troubles


What's with you cowgirl you stole a pinball machine or somethin'
The driver is asking the passenger why she is acting so strangely or suspiciously


Don't be funny I never stole nothin' I killed my own man
The passenger admits to having killed someone in the past


Ah let me see now the bus station ought to be straigh ahead downtown
The driver is giving directions to the passenger for a nearby bus station


Where you can probably get out
The driver is suggesting that the passenger gets out of the car at the bus station


Oh please don't make get out
The passenger is pleading with the driver to not kick her out of the car


You say you killed somebody
The driver is confirming what the passenger previously said about killing someone


I had to man please don't turn me in
The passenger is asking the driver to not call the police on her even though she confessed to murder


There's a bus station right over there boy we sure can pick 'em
The driver is expressing his disbelief and annoyance that he has picked up a murderer


He treated me like dirt I loved him lived with him all that time
The passenger is explaining why she killed the person, citing their mistreatment towards her


I was true to him I tried to warn him he just laughed at me
The passenger attempted to warn the person she killed, but they did not take her seriously




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS

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Anonymous


on Wayfaring Stranger

Wayfaring Stranger - The New Appalachians - Lyrics

I am a poor wayfaring stranger
Traveling through this world alone

There will be no sickness, toil or danger
In that grand land to which I roam

Well I'm going home to see my mother
I'm going home to a morning rose
I'm only goin' over Jordan
I'm only goin' over home

Musical Interlude

I know dark clouds will gather 'round me
I know my way is rough and steep
And beautiful fields lie just before me
Where God's redeemed there vigils keep

Well I'm going home to see my brothers
I'm going home no more to roam
I'm only goin' over Jordan
I'm only goin' over home

Musical Interlude

I'm going home to see my Father
I'm going home no more to roam
I'm only goin' over Jordan
I’m only goin’ where no one roams

I want to wear that crown of glory
When I get to that good land
I want to shout out salvation story
In concert with that blood washed band.
I'm going there to see my saviour
I’ll see his face no more to roam
I'm only going over Jordan
I'm only going over home
I'm only goin' over home

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