The song garnered Parton an Academy Award nomination and four Grammy Award nominations, winning her the awards for "Best Country Song" and "Best Country Vocal Performance, Female".
9 to 5
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pour myself a cup of ambition
And yawn and stretch and try to come to life
Jump in the shower and the blood starts pumping
Out on the street the traffic starts jumping
With folks like me on the job from 9 to 5
Working 9 to 5, what a way to make a living
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
Waiting for the day your ship'll come in
And the tide's gonna turn and it's all gonna roll your way
Working 9 to 5, what a way to make a living
Barely getting by, it's all taking and no giving
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 think about it, don't you?
It's a rich man's game no matter what they call it
And you spend your life putting money in his wallet
9 to 5, whoa what a way to make a living
Barely getting by, it's all taking and no giving
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 putting money in his wallet
Dolly Parton's "9 to 5" is a song that explores themes of dissatisfaction with a mundane, unfulfilling job, with the feeling that the worker is being exploited for their time and effort. The first verse highlights the daily routine of an average worker, waking up early, trying to come to life and then rushing to work, facing the grind and monotony of the daily commute, eventually beginning another repetitive day on the job. The chorus is a repetition of the idea of working 9 to 5 as a means to make a living, but feeling like the job is taking all of a worker's energy and resources without adequately compensating them.
The second verse is a reflection of how even though employees might work very hard and put in a lot of effort to achieve a promotion, it still may not be enough to convince the boss to appreciate their effort. The song presents a powerful critique of the workforce system, where people are promised upward mobility, however, that dream is often shattered as they remain just a step on the boss man's ladder, feeling stuck in the same boat as their friends. The chorus is repeated again, emphasizing the extent to which the job is sufficiently driving someone mad.
The third and final verse emphasize the greater dissatisfaction with the system, as workers begin to realize that they are caught in a cycle with no end in sight. They are working long hours, barely getting by and not getting any credit while living in the shadow of the boss's wealth. The song's hook is repeated once more, driving home the message that the job is a rich man's game, and employees all have dreams of a better life than what they're currently experiencing.
Line by Line Meaning
Tumble outta bed and I stumble to the kitchen
I wake up and groggily move towards the kitchen
Pour myself a cup of ambition
I make coffee to power up for the day ahead
And yawn and stretch and try to come to life
I stretch to shake off sleep and try to feel more alert
Jump in the shower and the blood starts pumping
I take a shower to wake up my senses and get my day started
Out on the street the traffic starts jumping
The hustle and bustle of the street comes alive
With folks like me on the job from 9 to 5
I'm working a typical 9-5 workday like many others
Working 9 to 5, what a way to make a living
Working a typical 9-5 job isn't the most fulfilling way to make a living
Barely getting by, it's all taking and no giving
It's difficult to get ahead financially with this type of job, and it feels like the work is endless without reward
They just use your mind and they never give you credit
The job requires mental effort and creativity, but the employer never recognizes or rewards it
It's enough to drive you crazy if you let it
If you allow yourself to become consumed with work, it can have a negative impact on your mental health
9 to 5, for service and devotion
The expectation is to show up and work the assigned hours with dedication
You would think that I would deserve a fat promotion
With the amount of work and effort put in, it feels deserving of a promotion
Want to move ahead but the boss won't seem to let me
Despite wanting to advance in the company, the boss is not allowing for such opportunities
I swear sometimes that man is out to get me
It feels like the boss is actively working against progress and success for personal reasons
They let you dream just to watch 'em shatter
The employer sometimes makes it seem like there is potential for growth, but then shows there isn't
You're just a step on the boss man's ladder
The employee is just another rung on the ladder to the boss man's success
But you got dreams he'll never take away
Despite the circumstances, the employee still has personal goals and aspirations
You're in the same boat with a lotta your friends
Many other people face similar struggles in the work environment
Waiting for the day your ship'll come in
Hoping for a time when things will improve or opportunity will present itself
And the tide's gonna turn and it's all gonna roll your way
Eventually, things will improve and success will come
9 to 5, yeah they got you where they want you
The job expects you to work a set schedule and is in control of your time and resources
There's a better life, and you think about it, don't you?
Despite the challenges of the job, there is still hope for a better future
It's a rich man's game no matter what they call it
The corporate world ultimately benefits the wealthy, even if it's not explicitly stated
And you spend your life putting money in his wallet
The employee sacrifices time and effort for the benefit of the employer's financial gain
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Dolly Parton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@missdrgirlfriend
this is the happiest song about hell i've ever heard
@uncolaman99
I agree; it's pretty weird if you think about it.
@TailcoatGames
I disagree
@TailcoatGames
Alastor’s reprise might top this
@abbymarievlogs
DrGyalfren what do you mean it’s about h?
@godesofdnyte
😭😭😭😭😭😭 this is awesome
@skyy9763
she’s the best nail player i’ve ever seen
@ellebelle6439
I don't hear it tho lol
@DarkMatterX1
@@ellebelle6439
Seriously? The tapping sounds you hear from 0:05 and onward throught the song? That's her fingernails tapping.
@lanaandthediamonds3651
She is the only nail player I heard