About
9 to 5 appears on Under the Radar Vol. 2 and was written by Dolly Parton. Robbie Williams’ version was produced by Tim Metcalfe and Piers Baron during sessions for Heavy Entertainment Show. The track was never intended as a conventional cover but began when Williams started humming Parton’s melody over a backing track Baron had created. Amused by the spontaneity, they completed a full version that retained the original lyric but transformed the arrangement into upbeat electro-pop.
Williams, a lifelong admirer of Parton, described the recording as “another part of the whimsical Mufti Day that is the Under the Radar series.” He acknowledged that covering such an iconic song was a risk but approached it with affection rather than parody. The new production replaced Parton’s country instrumentation with bright synths, a heavy dance beat and processed backing vocals, turning the 1980 workplace anthem into a tongue-in-cheek club track.
Although initially considered for the Heavy Entertainment Show tour (complete with planned costumes, choreography and video projections) Williams ultimately decided against performing it live, saying he “didn’t feel brave enough to do it.” An animated lyric video, released on 19 January 2018, reimagined the song with playful 1980s-style visuals of a woman commuting to work.
“I love the song. I’m a big Dolly Parton fan. It lifts me up and gives me a nice buzz.”Robbie Williams
Reaction to Williams’ cover was divided, with some praising its irreverence and others questioning the need to revisit a classic. Yet it encapsulated the freedom of Under the Radar Vol. 2: a space for experiments and curiosities that might not fit a mainstream album, but reveal Williams’ humour, affection for pop history and ongoing creative restlessness.
Lyrics
She's a working girl, in a modern world
Tumble out of bed and stumble to the kitchen
Pour myself a cup of ambition
And yawn and stretch and try to come alive
Jump in the shower and the blood starts pumping
Out on the street the traffic starts jumping
And folks like me on the job from nine to five
Working 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 they never give you credit
It's enough to drive you crazy if you let it
Nine to five, for service and devotion
You would think that I would deserve a fair promotion
Wanna 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 another step on the boss man's ladder
But you got dreams he'll never take away
You're in the same boat with a lot of your friends
Waitin' for the day your ship will come in
Then the tide's goin' to turn and it's all gonna go your way
Working 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 they never give you credit
It's enough to drive you crazy if you let it
Nine to five and 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 puttin' money in their wallet
She's a working girl, in a modern world
She's a working girl, in a modern world
She's a working girl, in a modern world
She's a working girl
Working 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 they never give you credit
It's enough to drive you crazy if you let it
Nine to five and 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 puttin' money in their wallet
Credits
-
Vocalist
Robbie Williams -
Songwriter
Dolly Parton -
Original Artist
Dolly Parton -
Producer
Tim Metcalfe, Piers Baron