Tumble out of bed and 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 nine to five.



Chorus: 1,3,5.

Nine to five, what a way to make a living;

barely getting by,it's all taking and no giving.

They just use your mind, and (depending on verse) "they never give you" or

"you never get the" credit; it's enough to drive you crazy, if you let it.



Verse 2

They let you dream just to watch them shatter;

You're just a step on the boss man's ladder,

But you've got dreams he'll never take away.

In the same boat with a lot of your friends;

Waitin' for the day your ship'll come in,

And the tide's gonna turn, and it's all gonna roll your way.



Chorus: 2

Nine to five, for service and devotion;

you would think that I would deserve a fair promotion;

want to move ahead, but the boss won't seem to let me.

I swear some-times, that man is out to get me.



Chorus: 4,6.

Nine to five, they've 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 pocket.