Five O'clock Whistle
Ella Fitzgerald and Her Famous Orchestra Lyrics
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The whistle won't blow and whadd'ya think?
My pop is still in the factory 'cause he don't know
What time it happens to be
The five o'clock whistle didn't blow
The whistle is broke and whadda'ya know?
If somebody don't find out what's wrong
Oh, who's gonna fix the whistle?
Won't somebody fix the whistle?
Oh, who's gonna fix the whistle?
So my poor old pop will know it's time for him to stop
Ya ought to hear what my mommy said
When papa came home and sneaked into bed
And told her he worked till half past two
Cause the five o'clock whistle never blew
The song "Five O'Clock Whistle" by Ella Fitzgerald is a lighthearted and humorous commentary on the monotony and boredom of the daily 9-5 work routine. The first stanza sets the tone for the song, as it describes the plight of the workers in the factory who are waiting for the five o'clock whistle to signal the end of their workday. However, the whistle is on the blink and won't blow, causing confusion and uncertainty as to what time it actually is. The second stanza continues the theme of the broken whistle, suggesting that if it's not fixed soon, the workers may be forced to work through the night.
The chorus of the song highlights the frustration of the workers and their families, as they wait for someone to fix the whistle and bring an end to their endless workday. The repetition of the phrase "who's gonna fix the whistle?" emphasizes the feeling of helplessness and the sense that the workers are at the mercy of their employer's whims. The final verse of the song adds a touch of humor to the situation, as the singer describes the reaction of her mother when her father comes home late, claiming that he had to work until half-past two because the five o'clock whistle never blew.
Line by Line Meaning
The five o'clock whistle's on the blink
The whistle that indicates the end of the workday has malfunctioned
The whistle won't blow and whadd'ya think?
The whistle has failed to make a sound and it's worrying
My pop is still in the factory 'cause he don't know
What time it happens to be
My father is still at work since he is unaware of the time
The five o'clock whistle didn't blow
The whistle is broke and whadda'ya know?
The whistle has ceased to function, and now it is an unsurprising fact
If somebody don't find out what's wrong
Oh, my pop'll be workin' all night long
If no one takes action to repair the whistle, my dad will have to work into the night
Oh, who's gonna fix the whistle?
Won't somebody fix the whistle?
It is a plea for someone to address the malfunctioning whistle
So my poor old pop will know it's time for him to stop
Its repair is urgent so that my father can know when it is appropriate to finish work
Ya ought to hear what my mommy said
When papa came home and sneaked into bed
You should listen to my mother's reaction when my father gets home and sneaks into bed
And told her he worked till half past two
Cause the five o'clock whistle never blew
And informs her that he worked long past five as the whistle never blew to signal the end of the workday
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Gene Irwin, Josef Myrow, Kim Gannon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@CreativityMusicLove
The five o'clock whistle's on the blink
The whistle won't blow and whadd'ya think?
My pop is still in the factory 'cause he don't know
What time it happens to be
The five o'clock whistle didn't blow
The whistle is broke and whadda'ya know?
If somebody don't find out what's wrong
Oh, my pop'll be workin' all night long
Oh, who's gonna fix the whistle?
Won't somebody fix the whistle?
Oh, who's gonna fix the whistle?
So my poor old pop will know it's time for him to stop
Ya ought to hear what my mommy said
When papa came home and sneaked into bed
And told her he worked till half past two
'Cause the five o'clock whistle never blew
@marshatrice8321
Tribute to my Dad he used to sing this to us when we were children. Today is his birthday. He is in heaven now.
@tonks78
Hugs!
@micg8700
I grew up in Highlandtown in Baltimore in the 50's and our row house, (with white marble steps), was close to several can companies, and we would hear the whistles every day. My Mom, who was a fine singer, would start singing this song whenever the whistle blew!
The sound of the factories, the arabbers singing down the alley, "Tomatoes, Cantalopes and Waaaatermelons, and my favorite, the jingle of snow chains on Winter mornings singing "No school today!" God how I miss those times!
@erflingnot
Thank you for sharing this! Paint a beautiful picture with your words! It added beautiful color to the song that I already had in my heart!You’re a very good writer ...write what you know. My mother worked in the shipyards... Charleston South Carolina! I can imagine her putting her hair up like Rosie the riveter and swinging out the door! She could dance! She and my father could clear the dance floor!Swing kids !SWING!
@ijustgottahotdog
Rest in Peace Ella! The world dearly misses you!
@donhitchcock3163
I just love this version. Thanks so much for posting.
@erflingnot
Thank you BB! I hadn’t heard this one !
@silverhairedoldlady
What a voice! SING IT ELLA!
@bimomoki1304
Great song ...
By the greatest ...
@jasobres
IIIIIIIIIIII gotta little bunnyrabbit that I'm takin' ta my Grammaws! Ta haaaaaave!