Five O'Clock World
Encyclopedia
"Five O'Clock World" is the title of a song written by Allen Reynolds
and recorded by American vocal group The Vogues
. It reached #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 peaked at #4 in the U.S. on the Billboard Hot 100 on 15–22 January 1966 and is one of The Vogues' best-known hits, along with "You're The One
".
, or contemporaries The Byrds
), and swings into stride with a low brass drone, finger-snapping rhythm, and work-song shouts drenched in reverb. The bright baritone lead vocal by Bill Burkette is punctuated by strong counter-melodies and harmonies from the group and rises to a lilting yodel after the chorus, with crescendoing string instruments throughout, in anticipation of the after-work freedom promised in the lyric. A syncopated descending marimba
figure carries the song out, some months before the Rolling Stones used the instrument to deliver the memorable hook in "Under My Thumb
". The instrumental track was started from a demo brought in by producer Tony Moon, cut at RCA Studio B
in Nashville. The vocal was then overdubbed in Pittsburgh at Co & Ce studios, with label co-head Nick Cenci.
covered the song on his 1991 album Past the Point of Rescue
(of whom the song's writer, Allen Reynolds, co-produced with Jim Rooney) and released it as a single. The song peaked at #16 on the Hot Country Songs
chart in 1992. It was also covered by Bowling for Soup
as a bonus track on some editions of their album Bowling for Soup Goes to the Movies
. Julian Cope
also released a cover of the song in 1989 on his album My Nation Underground
; Cope changed several of the lyrics and added in a section from the Petula Clark
song "I Know a Place
." (Both songs were released in 1965.)
to the 2003 movie Big Fish
, and was heavily featured on The Drew Carey Show
as its opening theme song during the second season. Various other covers of the song—including the Bowling for Soup
-recorded version—were used as the show's theme from 2002 to 2004.
Allen Reynolds
Allen Reynolds is an American record producer and songwriter who works primarily in the country music field.Reynolds was born in North Little Rock, Arkansas and started writing songs during his college years...
and recorded by American vocal group The Vogues
The Vogues
The Vogues are an American vocal group from Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh. The original group consisted of Bill Burkette , Don Miller , Hugh Geyer and Chuck Blasko .-Career:...
. It reached #1 in Canada on the RPM
RPM (magazine)
RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,...
singles chart on 10 January 1966 (their first of two chart-toppers there that year, followed by "Magic Town" in April) and peaked at #4 in the U.S. on the Billboard Hot 100 on 15–22 January 1966 and is one of The Vogues' best-known hits, along with "You're The One
You're the One (Petula Clark song)
"You're the One" is a song by Petula Clark. It was later also included on the 1965 album I Know a Place. Written by Clark with her regular songwriter/ producer Tony Hatch, "You're the One" was a Top 30 UK hit for Clark herself but was most successful as a Top Ten US single release by the Vogues.As...
".
Content
The song is sung from the point of view of an urban worker who does not enjoy his job but looks forward every day to 5:00 P.M., the time at which he goes home to see his girlfriend (or wife). Not surprisingly, "Five O'Clock World" was a major hit in steel working Pittsburgh, near where The Vogues were based.Arrangement
The arrangement of the Vogues' single was innovative and noteworthy. The song begins with a repeating modal figure on 12-string acoustic guitar (the sound reminiscent of medieval chansonChanson
A chanson is in general any lyric-driven French song, usually polyphonic and secular. A singer specialising in chansons is known as a "chanteur" or "chanteuse" ; a collection of chansons, especially from the late Middle Ages and Renaissance, is also known as a chansonnier.-Chanson de geste:The...
, or contemporaries The Byrds
The Byrds
The Byrds were an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964. The band underwent multiple line-up changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn remaining the sole consistent member until the group disbanded in 1973...
), and swings into stride with a low brass drone, finger-snapping rhythm, and work-song shouts drenched in reverb. The bright baritone lead vocal by Bill Burkette is punctuated by strong counter-melodies and harmonies from the group and rises to a lilting yodel after the chorus, with crescendoing string instruments throughout, in anticipation of the after-work freedom promised in the lyric. A syncopated descending marimba
Marimba
The marimba is a musical instrument in the percussion family. It consists of a set of wooden keys or bars with resonators. The bars are struck with mallets to produce musical tones. The keys are arranged as those of a piano, with the accidentals raised vertically and overlapping the natural keys ...
figure carries the song out, some months before the Rolling Stones used the instrument to deliver the memorable hook in "Under My Thumb
Under My Thumb
"Under My Thumb" is a song written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards for The Rolling Stones. Its first appearance was as an album track on 1966's Aftermath...
". The instrumental track was started from a demo brought in by producer Tony Moon, cut at RCA Studio B
RCA Studio B
RCA Studio B is a noted recording studio in Nashville, Tennessee. Situated at 30 Music Square W and originally known simply as RCA Studios, it became famous in the 1960s for being a part of what many refer to as the Nashville Sound...
in Nashville. The vocal was then overdubbed in Pittsburgh at Co & Ce studios, with label co-head Nick Cenci.
Cover versions
Country singer Hal KetchumHal Ketchum
Hal Michael Ketchum is an American country music artist. He has released ten studio albums since 1986, including nine for the Curb and Asylum-Curb labels. Ketchum's 1991 album Past the Point of Rescue is his most commercially successful, having been certified gold by the Recording Industry...
covered the song on his 1991 album Past the Point of Rescue
Past the Point of Rescue
Past the Point of Rescue is the title of an album released by American country music artist Hal Ketchum. His first major-label album, it was released in 1991 on Curb Records and has been certified gold by the RIAA. The album produced four singles for him on the Billboard Hot Country Singles &...
(of whom the song's writer, Allen Reynolds, co-produced with Jim Rooney) and released it as a single. The song peaked at #16 on the Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
chart in 1992. It was also covered by Bowling for Soup
Bowling for Soup
Bowling for Soup is an American pop-punk band which originally formed in Wichita Falls, Texas in 1994...
as a bonus track on some editions of their album Bowling for Soup Goes to the Movies
Bowling for Soup Goes to the Movies
- B-sides :- About the songs :# "Jimmy Neutron Theme"...
. Julian Cope
Julian Cope
Julian Cope is a British rock musician, author, antiquary, musicologist, poet and cultural commentator...
also released a cover of the song in 1989 on his album My Nation Underground
My Nation Underground
My Nation Underground is the fourth solo album by Julian Cope. It produced three singles including "Charlotte Anne" ....
; Cope changed several of the lyrics and added in a section from the Petula Clark
Petula Clark
Petula Clark, CBE is an English singer, actress, and composer whose career has spanned seven decades.Clark's professional career began as an entertainer on BBC Radio during World War II...
song "I Know a Place
I Know a Place
"I Know a Place" is a song with music and lyrics by Tony Hatch. It was recorded in 1965 by Petula Clark at the Pye Studios in Marble Arch in a session which featured drummer Bobby Graham and the Breakaways vocal group....
." (Both songs were released in 1965.)
In popular culture
"Five O'Clock World" was used in the soundtrack to the 1987 movie Good Morning Vietnam., also in the soundtrackBig Fish (soundtrack)
Big Fish is the soundtrack, on the Sony Classical label, of the 2003 film Big Fish. The original score and songs were composed by Danny Elfman.The album was nominated for the Academy Award and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score....
to the 2003 movie Big Fish
Big Fish
Big Fish is a 2003 American fantasy adventure film based on the 1998 novel of the same name by Daniel Wallace. The film was directed by Tim Burton and stars Albert Finney, Ewan McGregor, Billy Crudup, Jessica Lange and Marion Cotillard. Finney plays Edward Bloom, a former traveling salesman from...
, and was heavily featured on The Drew Carey Show
The Drew Carey Show
The Drew Carey Show is an American sitcom that aired on ABC from 1995 to 2004. The show was set in Cleveland, Ohio, and revolved around the retail office and home life of "everyman" Drew Carey, a fictionalized version of the actor....
as its opening theme song during the second season. Various other covers of the song—including the Bowling for Soup
Bowling for Soup
Bowling for Soup is an American pop-punk band which originally formed in Wichita Falls, Texas in 1994...
-recorded version—were used as the show's theme from 2002 to 2004.
The Vogues
| Chart (1965) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian RPM Top Singles | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 4 |
Hal Ketchum
| Chart (1992) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks | 16 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 21 |