9 To 5
Dolly Parton & Royksopp 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 pumpin'
Out on the street the traffic starts jumpin'
With folks like me on the job from nine to five
Workin' nine to five, what a way to make a livin'
They just use your mind and they never give you credit
It's enough to drive you crazy if you let it
Nine to five, 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' nine to five, 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
Nine to five, 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
Nine to five, 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
Nine to five, 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
The song "9 to 5" by Dolly Parton captures the monotony and frustration of working hard but hardly making ends meet. The first verse presents the daily routine of the working class, where the singer is barely awake as she makes her way to the kitchen. She then pours herself a cup of ambition, which could be interpreted as her determination to make it through the day despite the exhaustion. The next lines describe the adrenaline rush that comes from being part of the hustle and bustle of early morning traffic. But despite the excitement of the rush hour, there is a sense of being trapped in the routine of a 9 to 5 job where there is no creative fulfillment nor opportunities for growth.
The chorus then emphasizes the frustration of making a living despite having nothing left over after bills and expenses. The feeling of being used and unrecognized by bosses who take credit for their employees' hard work is also highlighted. The second verse speaks of shattered dreams and the limits placed upon the working class, creating an image of being stuck at the bottom of the corporate ladder. However, Parton also recognizes the audience's resilience and hope for a better life. She encourages them to strive for something more than what they currently have, as the chorus repeats, "there's a better life, and you dream about it, don't you?"
Overall, the lyrics depict the daily grind of the working class, encouraging them to look beyond their current circumstances to achieve a better life.
Line by Line Meaning
Tumble outta bed and I stumble to the kitchen
I clumsily get out of bed and make my way to the kitchen.
Pour myself a cup of ambition
I make a cup of coffee to give myself energy for the day ahead.
And yawn and stretch and try to come to life
I yawn and stretch my body to wake myself up.
Jump in the shower and the blood starts pumpin'
I take a refreshing shower and the water helps to invigorate me.
Out on the street the traffic starts jumpin'
The rush hour traffic begins to get busy outside my window.
With folks like me on the job from nine to five
Many people like myself are working a typical 9-5 job.
Workin' nine to five, what a way to make a livin'
Working a typical 9-5 job is such a mundane way to earn a living.
Barely gettin' by, it's all takin' and no givin'
I'm barely earning enough to survive and my job only seems to take from me, without giving anything back.
They just use your mind and they never give you credit
My employer only uses my brainpower and skills but never appreciates or acknowledges my efforts.
It's enough to drive you crazy if you let it
This mistreatment can be so frustrating and disheartening that it could drive one to the brink of insanity, if allowed to.
Nine to five, for service and devotion
My job expects me to provide unwavering service and dedication for the set hours of 9 to 5.
You would think that I would deserve a fat promotion
One would think that my hard work and dedication would warrant a considerable promotion.
Want to move ahead but the boss won't seem to let me
I harbor ambitions of climbing the career ladder, but my boss doesn't seem to support or encourage me.
I swear sometimes that man is out to get me!
My boss's actions make me feel like he has a vendetta against me.
They let you dream just to watch 'em shatter
My employer falsely allows me to dream of a brighter future, only to ultimately crush them.
You're just a step on the boss-man's ladder
I'm just a means to an end for my employer to climb their own corporate ladder.
But you got dreams he'll never take away
Although my employer may try to crush my dreams, I still keep them alive within myself.
You're in the same boat with a lotta your friends
Many of my colleagues and friends feel the same way about their jobs as I do.
Waitin' for the day your ship'll come in
We are all waiting for that lucky break or opportunity to change our lives for the better.
An' the tide's gonna turn and it's all gonna roll your way
We are all hoping for a time when our luck turns and everything starts working out for us.
Nine to five, yeah they got you where they want you
The 9-5 workday is designed to keep us in our place and make us dependent on our employers.
There's a better life, and you dream about it, don't you?
We all dream of a better life beyond our current jobs and situations.
It's a rich man's game no matter what they call it
This career game is rigged in favor of the wealthy, no matter the job or title.
And you spend your life puttin' money in his wallet
Our employers benefit greatly from our hard work, while we spend our lives trying to make ends meet.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Dolly Parton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@speakertreatz
with the 10cc/Destinys Child bootleg before it, into this, must be one of the most perfect and inventive mix sequences ever. I was in awe the first time i heard it
@technics1210able
I concur mate!!! brilliantly put brilliant mix!!
@colincrowden9349
Its from the radio soulwax / 2 many djs LP .. literally the best bootleg mix ever. They used to play out in Londons Fabric and was a joke at first trying to trip each other up with crazy tune selections
!
@Kate-lr6yv
I love dancing to this
@jazzygeofferz
It's a fantastic album. It's just a shame some of the originally intended artists for it didn't consent to their tracks being used.
@ThijsvA
Agreed . Absolutely inspired and just brilliant
@ljudicovjek6092
i hear this for the First time - I don't Know why it made me smile - would love to hear some Dolly thru Royksopp though
@andyboyd7732
What a mix series this was, my fav is vol.5, 10 is sick too
@madiplays2160
Love how the Charlie's Angels and 9 To 5 movies both have the same feminist theme. Genius mix.
@TruthThink1
At last I found it !! A guy from Uni played this all the fucking time... Good memories!!