Tumble outta bed and I stumble to the kitchen
Pour myself a cup of ambition
Yawn and stretch and try to come to alive
Jump in the shower and the blood starts pumpin'
Out on the street the traffic starts jumpin'
With folks like me on the job from 9 to 5

Workin' 9 to 5, what a way to make a livin'
Barely gettin' by, it's all takin' and no givin'
They just use your mind and they never give you credit
It's enough to drive you crazy if you let it
9 to 5, for service and devotion
You would think that I would deserve a fat promotion
Want to move ahead but the boss won't seem to let me
I swear sometimes that man is out to get me!

They let you dream just to watch 'em shatter
You're just a step on the boss-man's ladder
But you got dreams he'll never take away
You're in the same boat with a lotta your friends
Waitin' for the day your ship'll come in
an' the tide's gonna turn and it's all gonna roll your way

Workin' 9 to 5, what a way to make a livin'
Barely gettin' by, it's all takin' and no givin'
They just use your mind and you never get the credit
It's enough to drive you crazy if you let it
9 to 5, yeah they got you where they want you
There's a better life, and you dream about it, don't you?
It's a rich man's game no matter what they call it
And you spend your life puttin' money in his wallet

9 to 5, whoa what a way to make a livin'
Barely gettin' by, it's all takin' and no givin'
They just use your mind and they never give you credit
It's enough to drive you crazy if you let it

9 to 5, yeah they got you where they want you
There's a better life, and you dream about it, don't you?
It's a rich man's game no matter what they call it
And you spend your life puttin' money in his wallet



Lyrics submitted by numb

Track duration: 02:42

"9 to 5" as written by Florrie Palmer

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


9 To 5 song meanings
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16 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:I freakin' love this song. Dolly Parton is an awesome song writer and singer.
    Flag Future_Country_Staron April 12, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think that this song is about business men and woman going off to work everyday, typical office workers. And how mundane it can be. "you never get the credit/
    It's enough to drive you crazy if you let it"
    I dont personally agree with DiegoTheGreat, but I can understand the interpretation and logic behind the theory.
    Flag princessannmarieon September 26, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:That is just rediculous Diego! I think you need to get your head out of the gutter. When you interpret a song try to think about who wrote it and who sang it. Mabey if this was a Marilyn Manson song your theory would fly.I did get a good laugh though.
    Flag killab6420on June 21, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i am a dolly parton fan
    (i guess)
    so im not trying to be mean
    but this song to me is about prostitution
    think about it
    "Workin' 9 to 5, what a way to make a livin"
    "for service and devotion"
    "Want to move ahead but the boss won't seem to let me
    I swear sometimes that man is out to get me!"
    "they done got you where they want you"
    but thats just what i think
    Flag DiegoTheGreaton May 27, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think this is about how if your not at the top you have to work and give it your all, and even then someone higher up can stop you from getting better. BUt what she is saying to keep trying and they cant stop your dreams forever!
    Flag LOOKHEREon February 01, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:the first line is "tumble outta bed" not jump.

    and on another note, i dont really think this song is pro-communism it just voices the working man (or womans) opinion that working 9 to 5 in some dead end job for some idiot boss, for lack of a better word, sucks.
    Flag concreteskieson January 28, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:One of the funniest movies I've ever seen. I must have watched it 50 times over the years.

    The song always reminds me of my mother, god bless her. This was her life in the late 70's when the song came out, working her fingers to the bone for thankless bosses just trying make a living and raise three girls on her own.
    Flag forest29on January 04, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:She is the Queen of Country and she has an amazing voice! She is really nice, if you ever get to met her!
    Flag countrygirl33on December 19, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:long live dolly
    Flag goodluck20on August 17, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think Dolly Parton is obviously trying to promote Communism.

    'It's a rich man's game no matter what they call it'

    'You're in the same boat with a lotta your friends'

    I would definitely say this is a song supporting Communism. Interestingly, it was written towards the end of the hot period of the cold war between the USA and the USSR. Maybe Dolly Parton believed the Russians were going to invade America and she decided to make her political affiliations to the far left known with this song.
    Flag Welshwizardon May 22, 2005   Link

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