About the song
Background
Dolly Parton’s iconic song “9 to 5” wasn’t just a hit single, it was the theme song for the 1980 comedy film of the same name starring Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Parton herself (in her film debut). The film’s title paid homage to the 9to5, a real-life organization founded in 1973 that advocated for fair pay and treatment of women in the workplace.
Interestingly, Parton’s song and another song titled “9 to 5” by Sheena Easton, written for the film’s soundtrack but ultimately rejected, have different themes. While Easton’s song focused on a woman waiting for her husband to return home from work, Parton’s captured the frustrations and aspirations of office workers, particularly women.
Themes
The song tackles several themes that resonated with working people:
- The Grind of Work: The repetitive nature of office work (“working 9 to 5”) and the struggle to make ends meet (“barely getting by”) are highlighted.
- Undervalued Employees: The lyrics express feelings of being underappreciated by bosses who take credit for their work (“they just use your mind and they never give you credit”).
- Desire for Advancement: The frustration of being stuck in a dead-end job and the yearning for opportunities (“want to move ahead but the boss won’t seem to let me”).
- Workplace Camaraderie: There’s a subtle hint of solidarity with other colleagues (“in the same boat with a lot of your friends”).
Lyrics
The opening lines perfectly capture the drudgery of a typical workday:
Pour myself a cup of ambition And yawn and stretch and try to come to life With folks like me on the job from 9 to 5
The chorus expresses both the resignation and simmering resentment many workers feel:
9 to 5, what a way to make a living Barely gettin’ by, it’s all takin’ and no givin’
Parton doesn’t shy away from criticizing unfair bosses:
I swear sometimes that man is out to get me
But the song also ends with a flicker of hope:
We’ve got to fight You and me
“9 to 5” became an anthem for office workers everywhere, capturing the frustrations and dreams of those who punched a clock. It remains a popular choice for karaoke nights and a timeless reminder of the challenges and aspirations of the working world.
Video
Lyrics
Tumble out of bedAnd stumble to the kitchenPour myself a cup of ambitionAnd yawn and stretch and try to come to lifeJump in the showerAnd the blood starts pumpin’Out on the streets, the traffic starts jumpin’For folks like me on the job from 9 to 5Workin’ 9 to 5What a way to make a livin’Barely gettin’ byIt’s all takin’ and no givin’They just use your mindAnd they never give you creditIt’s enough to drive youCrazy if you let it9 to 5For service and devotionYou would think that IWould deserve a fat promotionWant to move aheadBut the boss won’t seem to let meI swear sometimes that man isOut to get me, hmmmThey let you dreamJust a watch ’em shatterYou’re just a step on the boss man’s ladderBut you got dreams he’ll never take awayIn the same boat with a lot of your friendsWaitin’ for the day your ship’ll come inAnd the tide’s gonna turnAnd it’s all gonna roll you awayWorkin’ 9 to 5What a way to make livin’Barely gettin’ byIt’s all takin’ and no givin’They just use your mindAnd you never get the creditIt’s enough to drive youCrazy if you let it9 to 5Yeah, they got you were they want youThere’s a better lifeAnd you think about it, don’t you?It’s a rich man’s gameNo matter what they call itAnd you spend your lifePutting money in his wallet9 to 5Oh, what a way to make a livin’Barely gettin’ byIt’s all takin’ and no givin’They just use your mindAnd they never give you creditIt’s enough to drive youCrazy if you let it9 to 5Yeah, they got you where they want youThere’s a better lifeAnd you dream about it, don’t you?It’s a rich man’s gameNo matter what they call itAnd you spend your lifePutting money in his wallet9 to 5