"9 to 5" brought Dolly's songwriting to the top of the pop hit parade for the first time. It was also a #1 country and adult contemporary smash, won 2 Grammy Awards, and was nominated for an Oscar. The movie "9 To 5" subsequently became a TV sitcom (1982-1988) with Dolly's sister Rachel Dennison in the "Doralee Rhodes" role. Both Rachel and sister Frieda issued pop solo LP's in 1984. Frieda wrote "Sing For The Common Man", the flip side of Dolly's million-selling "9 To 5" single.
9 To 5 (1980)
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 pumpin'
Out on the street the traffic starts jumpin'
With folks like me on the job from 9 to 5.
CHORUS
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 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 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 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
And the time's goin' turn, and it's all gonna roll your way.
REPEAT CHORUS
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 puttin' money in his wallet.
REPEAT CHORUS
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 mattercwhat they call it
And you spend your life puttin' money in his wallet.
9 to 5, working 9 to 5.
From the book "Dolly Parton Songteller" My Life In Lyrics. BY: Dolly Parton with Robert K. Oermann.