9 To 5

“9 to 5” is one of Dolly Parton’s most iconic songs, acting as a upbeat dance country hit, as well as a commentary on the unrealistic 9-to-5 work lifestyle. The song was written for comedy film 9 to 5, which starred Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda and of course, Parton in her film debut.

“Working 9 to 5 / What a way to make a living / Barely getting’ by / It’s all taking / And no giving”, Parton sings in the chorus. “They just use your mind / And they never give you credit”. The songs has also been recognised as a potential feminist anthem, perhaps being an outcry against the unequal pay women faced (and still face today). The track is used a lot in popular culture in TV shows, movies and games. It is also one of the few songs that features the clicking of a typewriter as one of the layers of sounds throughout the song, which adds to the message and theme of the track.

The music video features clips from the “9 to 5” film mixed in with Parton singing the song on stage. It was uploaded to Dolly Parton’s official YouTube channel in March 2014 and has 6.8 million views.

Release Date: 29th November 1980

Songwriter/s: Dolly Parton

Producer/s: Gregg Perry

Label/s: RCA

Chart Rankings, Certifications & Awards: The hit went Platinum in the UK and the US, will reaching Gold status in Canada. In the year of its release, the song went to #1 in the US and Canada and made it into the top charts in South Africa, New Zealand, Germany, Belgium, Austria, Australia and the UK. Parton also won two Grammy Awards for the track: “Best Country Song” and “Best Country Vocal Performance, Female.”