Parton began performing as a child, singing on local radio and television in East Tennessee. At age 12 she was appearing on Knoxville TV, and at 13, she was recording on a small label and appearing at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. When she graduated from high school in 1964 she moved to Nashville, taking many traditional elements of folklore and popular music from East Tennessee with her.
Parton's initial success came as a songwriter, with her songs being covered by Kitty Wells, Hank Williams, Jr., Skeeter Davis, and a number of others. She signed with Monument Records in late 1965, where she was initially pitched as a bubblegum pop singer, earning only one national chart single, "Happy, Happy Birthday Baby," which did not crack the Billboard Top 100. Additional pop singles also failed to chart.
The label agreed to have Parton sing country music after her composition "Put It Off Until Tomorrow" as recorded by Bill Phillips (and with Parton, uncredited, on harmony) went to No. 6 on the country charts in 1966. Her first country single, "Dumb Blonde" (one of the few songs during this era that she recorded but didn't write), reached No. 24 country 1967, followed later the same year with "Something Fishy," which went to No. 17. The two songs anchored her first full-length album, Hello I'm Dolly, that same year.
In 1967, Parton was asked to join the weekly syndicated country music TV program hosted by Porter Wagoner, replacing Norma Jean. She also signed with RCA Records, Wagoner's label, during this period, where she would remain for the next two decades. Wagoner and Parton immediately began a hugely successful career as a vocal duet in addition to their solo work and their first single together, a cover of Tom Paxton's "The Last Thing on My Mind," reached the top ten on the U.S. country charts in late 1967, and was the first of over a dozen duet singles to chart for them during the next several years.
Parton is a hugely successful songwriter, having begun by writing country songs with strong elements of folk music in them based upon her upbringing in humble mountain surroundings. Her songs "Coat of Many Colors" and "Jolene" have become classics in the field, as have a number of others. As a composer, she is also regarded as one of country music's most gifted storytellers, with many of her narrative songs based on persons and events from her childhood.
In 1982 Dolly Parton sang her song "I Will Always Love You", for the movie "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas", starring Parton and Burt Reynolds. The song - originally composed around 1974 - made few ripples, but it wasn't until Whitney Houston re-recorded it for "The Bodyguard" a decade later, that the song made yet another international hit for Dolly Parton. She later put out her own version on the 1996 album of the same name.
In 1987, Parton left her longtime label, RCA, and signed with Columbia Records, where her recording career continued to prosper, but by the mid 1990s, Parton, along with many other performers of her generation, found that her new music was not welcome on country radio playlists. She recorded a series of critically acclaimed bluegrass albums, beginning with "The Grass is Blue" (1999) and "Little Sparrow" (2001), both of which won Grammy Awards. Her 2002 album "Halos and Horns" included a bluegrass version of the Led Zeppelin classic Stairway to Heaven. In 2005, Parton released Those Were The Days, her interpretation of hits from the folk-rock era of the late 1960s through early 1970s. The CD featured such classics as John Lennon's "Imagine," Cat Stevens' "Where Do The Children Play," Tommy James' "Crimson & Clover," and the folk classic "Where Have All The Flowers Gone", as well as the title track.
In 2007, Dolly paved new musical ground by forming her own record label, Dolly Records. The label's first release - Backwoods Barbie - debuted at #2 on the Billboard country albums charts and marks Parton's first mainstream country album in 17 years. Parton is touring North America and Europe throughout 2008 in support of her latest release.
1955
Working 9 to 5
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pour myself a cup of ambition
And yawnin', stretchin', try to come to life
Jump in the shower and the blood starts pumpin'
Out on the streets, 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'
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 fair 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 your dream, just watch 'em shatter
You're just a step on the boss man's ladder
But you got dreams he'll never take away
In the same boat with a lot of your friends
And the tide's gonna turn an' it's all gonna roll you away
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 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
Workin' 9 to 5, oh what a way to make a livin'
Barely gettin' by, it's all takin' and no givin'
They just use you 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 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
The song "Working 9 to 5" by Dolly Parton is a commentary on the hardships and injustices faced by working-class Americans. The opening verse describes the daily routine of someone working a 9 to 5 job, from stumbling out of bed to making a cup of coffee and heading out into the world. The subsequent verse delves into the struggles of the modern workforce, highlighting how workers barely make ends meet and feel undervalued and unappreciated by their bosses.
The chorus, "Workin' 9 to 5, what a way to make a livin', barely gettin' by, it's all takin' and no givin'," emphasizes the difficult reality of being employed in a job that doesn't pay enough and doesn't offer any sense of fulfillment. The lyrics also suggest that bosses tend to treat workers like machines or simple resources, rather than individuals, often refusing to give them the recognition they deserve. Dolly Parton's song serves as a reminder that people deserve better treatment, and that a working life shouldn't be all about chasing wealth and power.
Line by Line Meaning
Tumble outta bed and I stumble to the kitchen
Getting out of bed is a struggle and as I make my way to the kitchen, I seem to be stumbling.
Pour myself a cup of ambition
To overcome my tiredness, I need to be motivated and optimistic.
And yawnin', stretchin', try to come to life
As I stretch and yawn, I try to awaken myself from my sleepiness.
Jump in the shower and the blood starts pumpin'
Taking a shower helps me to feel more energized and my blood starts flowing better.
Out on the streets, the traffic starts jumpin'
As soon as I leave the house, the streets are already filled with cars and the traffic is already heavy.
With folks like me on the job from 9 to 5
There are many people like me who are going to work from 9 in the morning until 5 in the evening.
Workin' 9 to 5, what a way to make a livin'
Working from 9 in the morning until 5 in the evening seems like a hard way to earn a living.
Barely gettin' by, it's all takin' and no givin'
I'm barely making enough money to live, and my job feels like it's all about giving and not getting anything in return.
They just use your mind and they never give you credit
My company uses my intellectual property but never truly acknowledges it, making it feel like all my ideas belong to someone else.
It's enough to drive you crazy if you let it
The job's conditions would drive me crazy if I let them bother me.
9 to 5, for service and devotion
I give unconditionally 9 hours of my day to my job while I don't get much back.
You would think that I would deserve a fair promotion
Given the hours spent working, it seems logical that a promotion and a raise should be in order.
Want to move ahead but the boss won't seem to let me
Despite my desire to move up the career ladder, my boss doesn't seem to want to let that happen.
I swear sometimes that man is out to get me
I feel like my boss is often against me and is actively trying to prevent me from advancing in the company.
They let your dream, just watch 'em shatter
The company I'm working for not only doesn't acknowledge my talents but they also dash the dreams I hold onto.
You're just a step on the boss man's ladder
No matter how important I think I am, I'm only a small part of the company's whole chain, always at the bottom of the ladder.
But you got dreams he'll never take away
Although the company may try to crush my hopes and aspirations for the future, they will never be able to take them completely away from me.
In the same boat with a lot of your friends
There are many other people in the same situation as me, struggling at the same job.
And the tide's gonna turn an' it's all gonna roll you away
Eventually, things are going to change and I won't be stuck in this job forever.
9 to 5 what a way to make a livin'
Working from 9 in the morning until 5 in the evening feels like too much work with too little pay.
Barely gettin' by, it's all takin' and no givin'
My work doesn't pay enough to live well, and I feel like I'm only ever giving and not receiving anything in return.
They just use your mind and you never get the credit
I spend all my time using my mind and my creativity to benefit the company, but don't get any recognition for it.
It's enough to drive you crazy if you let it
The work's conditions so far are already overstressing, and it's up to me if I let them affect me more or not.
9 to 5, yeah, they got you where they want you
The company has me where they want me: stuck in a job that doesn't pay enough and doesn't acknowledge my talents.
There's a better life and you think about it, don't you?
Although I feel stuck in this job, I know that there are better opportunities out there for me to pursue.
It's a rich man's game, no matter what they call it
The work game is always in favor of the rich and wealthy, no matter how much anyone calls it 'fair and equal.'
And you spend your life putting money in his wallet
All the hard work I put into the company ultimately benefits someone else: the company owner's wallet.
Contributed by Abigail J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@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