Five O'Clock World

The Vogues

About Five O'Clock World

"Five O'Clock World" (also known as "5 O'Clock World") is a song written by Allen Reynolds and recorded by American vocal group The Vogues. It reached number 1 on WLS on 17 December 1965 and 7 January 1966, number 1 in Canada on the RPM singles chart on 10 January 1966 (their first of two chart-toppers there that year, followed by "Magic Town" in April), and number 4 in the U. S. on the Hot 100 on 15–22 January 1966 and is one of The Vogues' best-known hits, along with "You're The One".  


Year:
2000
2:20
42 

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(Up!)
(Up!)
Up every morning just to keep a job (up!)
I gotta fight my way through the hustling mob (up!)
Sounds of the city pounding in my brain (up!)
While another day goes down the drain (up!)
(Yeah, yeah, yeah) but it's a five o'clock world when the whistle blows
No-one owns a piece of my time
And there's a five o'clock me inside my clothes
Thinking that the world looks fine, yeah
A-da-lay-ee-ee (up, up, up!)
 
Trading my time for the pay I get (up!)
Living on money that I ain't made yet (up!)
Gotta keep goin' gotta make my way (up!)  
But I live for the end of the day (up!)
(Yeah, yeah, yeah) 'cause it's a five o'clock world when the whistle blows
No-one owns a piece of my time
And there's a long-haired girl who waits, I know
To ease my troubled mind, yeah!
A-da-lay-ee-ee (up, up, up!)
 
In the shelter of her arms everything's okay (yeah-yeah) (up!)
She talks and the world goes slipping away (it slips away) (up!)
And I know the reason I can still go on 
When every other reason is gone
(Yeah, yeah, yeah) in my five o'clock world she waits for me
Nothing else matters at all
'Cause every time my baby smiles at me
I know that it's all worthwhile, yeah
A-da-lay-ee-ee (up, up, up!)
A-da-lay-ee-ee (up, up, up!)

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The Vogues

The Vogues are an American vocal group from Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh. The original group consisted of Bill Burkette (lead baritone), Don Miller (baritone), Hugh Geyer (first tenor) and Chuck Blasko (second tenor). more »

1 fan

Written by: ALLEN REYNOLDS

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


11 facts about this song

Origin
"Five O’Clock World" is a hit song by The Vogues, an American pop/folk-rock group from Pennsylvania. This quartet was known for their smooth vocal harmonies.
Creation and Release
This song was initially released in 1965 on the Kama Sutra label as a single. Later, it was included in their album "Five O'Clock World" in 1966.
Chart Performance
"Five O'Clock World" reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, making it one of The Vogues' biggest hits.
Song Theme
The song celebrates the end of a working day and the freedom that comes with it, an anthem for anyone waiting for that five o'clock whistle to blow.
Songwriter
"Five O'Clock World" was composed by Allen Reynolds, who would later gain fame as a producer for artists like Garth Brooks.
TV Show Cameo
The song gained renewed popularity in the late 1990s when it became the theme song for the ABC television show "The Drew Carey Show." It was used as the theme for seasons 2, 3, and 4.
Variations
Although The Vogues' version is the most well-known, numerous artists have covered "Five O’Clock World" over the years, including Hal Ketchum and Julian Cope.
Unique Style
The blend of folk-rock, beat music, and baroque pop elements in "Five O'Clock World" made it stand out from other songs at the time of its release.
Legacy
It remains one of the most enduring songs from the 60s and is often associated with the working class due to its relatable theme.
Music Video
Despite being a hit before the era of music videos, a music video for "Five O'Clock World" was eventually made and it visually embodies the upbeat, liberating energy of the song.
Recognitions
In 2001, "Five O'Clock World" was named one of the 365 Songs of the Century by the Recording Industry Association of America and the National Endowment for the Arts.

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    "Five O'Clock World Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Mar. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/4626767/The+Vogues/Five+O%27Clock+World>.

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1966

    Billboard #4


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