Album: The Vogues' Greatest Hits (1965)

Charted: 4

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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!) Writer/s: ALLEN REYNOLDS
  Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 35

• Mavis from Upper Great LakesReally resonated for me, growing up in a town filled with factories. I was a freshman in high school, listening to the radio as much as possible.
• Rob from MichiganThe line is actually “ oh my lady” but it does sound like adalee a little
• John Wilson from WirralBrilliant record
• John M from TexasWas “adalee” the wife’s name or just a sound lyric?
• Robyn from PaIs there a Cello featured in the song?
• Jennifur Sun from RamonaAnnabelle, when I was a kid, the old Fire Station in my home town had one. Blew at 12 and at 5. No matter where you were you knew what time it was by that whistle. My late oldest brother used to to know when to meet my dad coming home from work when he was up town.
• Jennifur Sun from RamonaPlease can anyone tell me who played the opening guitar riff and what kind it was? thanks
• Barry from Sauquoit, NyPer: http://www.oldiesmusic.com/news.htm {03-01-2018}..
  Bill Burkette, original lead baritone of the Vogues on hits like "You're The One" (#4 in 1965), "Turn Around, Look At Me" (#7 in 1968) and "Five O'Clock World" (#4 in 1966), died Thursday (March 1st, 2018) of lymphoma at a care center near his home in Murrsyville, Pennsylvania. The Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania-born Bill was 75... Originally formed as the Val-Aires at Turtle Creek High School, they were originally championed by DJ Porky Chedwick in Pittsburgh, but the Army kept them from having any more than local success. After their military service was over, they tried again and airplay by Pittsburgh program director John Rook got them distributed by Co & Ce Records as the Vogues. All-told the group had eight national top 40 hits, the last four on the Reprise label. Bill left the group in 1983 and became a sales manager for a home improvement store. The group's trademark was eventually lost and the original group was only allowed to perform under that name in portions of Pennsylvania. However, Bill did join the national group for awhile in 2008. The original Vogues were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2001...
  May he R.I.P.
• Seventhmist from 7th HeavenNot only was this the theme for the Carey Show for a few years, but they made a brilliantly choreographed video featuring it as well. Check Youtube.
• Henry Hill from New York, Ny. 11025Seems like those were the days... Life was simple, get a job, work hard, get paid at the end of the week, and you could count on "The American Way".
• Jennifur Sun from RamonaLoved the guitar work, and that reverby sound of the echo, of Hey hey.
• Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn December 23rd 1987, the Touchtone Studios movie 'Good Morning, Vietnam' was released to a limited number of theaters; and the following month on January 15th, 1988 it opened in theaters across the U.S.A. and Canada...
  Exactly twenty-two years earlier on Dec. 23rd, 1965 "Five O'Clock World" by the Vogues, which was featured in the film, was at #16 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart, then three weeks later on January 9th, 1966 it peaked at #4 {for 2 weeks}.
• Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn January 9th 1966, "Five O'Clock World" by the Vogues peaked at #4 (for 2 weeks) on the Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; it had entered the chart on November 21st, 1965 and spent 14 weeks on the Top 100...
  (Personally, "Magic Town" is my favorite Vogues record, it only peaked #21???).
• Don from West Sacramento, CaThis is one of my favorite songs, in 1965 I was 13 years old waiting for rock and roll, not pop.
• Tony from Wilmette, IlI found out about this song via The Drew Carey Show and just fell in love with it
• Jerry from Niles, MiGreat song. Good indication of what early to mid 60's rock was all about.
• Charles Hollingswort from Leeds, AlThe Vogues were formerly The Val-Aires
• Barry from Sauquoit, NyThe Vogues first two charted records, "You're The One" and "Five O'Clock World", both peaked at No. 4!!! {Interestingly, their 7th & 8th charted records both peaked at No. 7; they were "Turn Around, Look At Me" and "My Special Angel"}
• Tony from Eugene, OrThis song is a precursor to songs such as "Hard Day's Night" and "Here Comes My Girl." It also romanticizes aspects of blue-collar life in much the same vein as some of Bruce Springsteen's work. Lots of folks have to work very hard at jobs they don't neccessarily love or even like. It's sweet to have a reward at the end of your labors.
• Daevid from Glendale, CaFirst concert i ever saw were the Vogues in 1965.
  they were booked to play a youth fair near my hometown and i remember being very impressed with their stageshow. Great vocals too.
  I was ten years old.
• Lewis from Culpeper, VaThis song gives me the same feeling as the old Miller Bear comerical "It's Miller Time". The rush of freedom when your life is your own again. Girls with long hair were all the rage then, too.
• Congo from Woonsocket, RiI never thought anyone could touch it after The Vogues but Hal Hetchum's rendition is just great.Sounds like the man put his whole heart and soul into it. Really glad about that becuase it's such a great tune.
• Tony from Chicago, IlI loved this song on teh Drew Carey Show!!!!!!!!!!! it is really great!! the guitar riff in teh opening is incredible i flat out love this song!!!!!!
• Dave from Sherman, TxThis song reminds me of a time when our country was organized around a strong, seemingly well directed society. Men worked hard but, after work :
  "Theres a long-haired girl who waits, I know
  To ease my troubled mind ... " An era, long gone.
• John from West Sacramento, CaFive O'clock World was also re-made by Hal Ketchum on his "Past the Point of Rescue" album. I think he did a really good re-make of the song myself.
• Frank from Westminster, ScBack in 1965 a lot of factories had whistles and bells to call and dismiss their workers. Seems archaic now, but that's the way it was. BTW, if you have to be known for two songs, this one and "You're The One" are about as good as it gets!
• Daniel from Boston, MaGood song, real truth, world needs more whistles to dignify freedom. If I'm right, the old Filene's building in Boston still has an opening and closing bell.
• Annabelle from Eugene, OrIt's a five o'clock world when the whistle blows. How many companies actually have whistles? And in the work force, do they always blow a whistle at five O'clock?
• Howard from St. Louis Park, MnA song for the working class about the relief of the end of a long workday. This was one of The Vogues biggest hits along with You're the One.
• Frank from Westminster, ScJust a great song! Not many popular songs feature yodeling, but this one wouldn't be the same without it.
• Sam from North Vancouver, CanadaACTUALLY, this song was the second AND last theme used for the show. "Moon Over Parma" was used for the first few seasons, then "Five O'Clock Word" (by The Vogues), then "Cleveland Rocks", then "Five O'Clock World" again for the last season or so, but performed by different bands.
• Kevin from Tulsa, OkActually, this song was used as the opener to 'The Drew Carey Show' in the final seasons. The first seasons opened with "Moon Over Parma" being sung by Drew Carey himself. Then came "Cleveland Rocks" by The Presidents of the USA with Drew yelling out "Ohio!" at the end. Then came The Vogues version of "Five O'Clock World", then they switched to having "Five O'Clock World" done in many different styles by various artists.
• Clarke from Pittsburgh, PaThe Vogues hail from Turtle Creek, a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
• Sandy from London, EnglandCovered by ex-Teardrop Explodes leader Julian Cope.
• Mike from Covina, CaOne of my favorite songs. It's just about a 9 to 5 workout and when the whistle blows you're free.

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