9 To 5
KITCHEN - Dolly Parton Lyrics


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Tumble outta bed and I stumble to the kitchen
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
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, 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

Overall Meaning

"9 to 5" is a classic song by legendary country singer-songwriter Dolly Parton that was released in 1980 as part of the soundtrack of the movie of the same name that starred Parton herself, Lily Tomlin, and Jane Fonda. The song became an instant hit, reaching the top of the charts in the U.S., Canada, and several other countries. The lyrics describe the daily routine of a working-class person who has to wake up early, go to work from 9 to 5, and barely make ends meet despite their hard work and dedication. The song also criticizes the corporate world and the way it treats its employees, especially women, by undervaluing their contributions and limiting their opportunities for advancement.


The song's catchy melody and relatable lyrics struck a chord with millions of people around the world, especially women who could identify with the struggles and frustrations of working in a male-dominated and often hostile environment. The song's chorus, "working 9 to 5, what a way to make a living, barely getting by, it's all taking and no giving," became an anthem for the feminist movement and a rallying cry for social justice and equality.


Line by Line Meaning

Tumble outta bed and I stumble to the kitchen
I wake up feeling exhausted and make my way to the kitchen with tired steps.


Pour myself a cup of ambition
I make myself a cup of coffee to psyche myself up for the day ahead.


And yawn and stretch and try to come to life
I try to shake off my sleepiness by stretching and yawning.


Jump in the shower and the blood starts pumping
I take a shower to get my blood flowing and start my day off fresh.


Out on the street the traffic starts jumping
Once I leave my house and head to work, the hectic and busy city life begins.


With folks like me on the job from 9 to 5
Many people, like myself, have a full-time job from 9 in the morning until 5 in the evening.


Working 9 to 5, what a way to make a living
Having to work 9 to 5 every day just to make a living can be very exhausting.


Barely getting by, it's all taking and no giving
It feels like I'm barely making enough money to survive and my job is taking all my time and energy.


They just use your mind and they never give you credit
My employer doesn't appreciate my hard work and dedication to the job, and instead just uses me for their own benefit.


It's enough to drive you crazy if you let it
If I focus too much on the negative aspects of my job and let it consume me, it could drive me insane.


9 to 5, for service and devotion
I am expected to show service and devotion to my job from 9 to 5.


You would think that I would deserve a fat promotion
With all the hard work and dedication I put into my job, I feel like I deserve a promotion.


Want to move ahead but the boss won't seem to let me
Although I want to move up in the company, my boss is not allowing me to do so.


I swear sometimes that man is out to get me
My boss seems to have a personal vendetta against me and always finds ways to hold me back.


They let you dream just to watch 'em shatter
My employer allows me to have dreams and aspirations, only to crush them later on.


You're just a step on the boss man's ladder
My place in the company is just a stepping stone for my boss to climb his own ladder of success.


But you got dreams he'll never take away
Even though my employer may try to crush my dreams, I still have them and they can never truly take them away from me.


You're in the same boat with a lotta your friends
Many of my friends are in the same situation as me, working long hours in a job that doesn't appreciate them.


Waiting for the day your ship'll come in
I am waiting for that one moment when all my hard work will pay off and I will finally achieve success.


And the tide's gonna turn and it's all gonna roll your way
One day, everything will align and all my hard work and patience will finally pay off and success will come my way.


There's a better life, and you think about it, don't you?
I can't help but daydream about a better life, one where I am happy and fulfilled in my career.


It's a rich man's game no matter what they call it
The world of business and career advancement is a game that only those who are wealthy and well-connected have the privilege to play.


And you spend your life putting money in his wallet
As an employee, I spend my career making money for the wealthy bosses and executives, while barely keeping enough for myself to survive.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Dolly Parton

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@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

163 More Replies...

@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

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