Friday Five O’Clock Whistle
July 21st, 2006Whatever happened to the Friday Five O’Clock Whistle? I used to love this amazing phenomenon. The clock would strick five, the radio would play either Todd Rundgren’s “Bang the Drum All Day” or Loverboy’s “Everybody’s Working for the Weekend”, and office workers across the country would throw their computers against a wall. At least that was my experience. (Was I the only one doing this? Maybe that’s why I used to always get fired on a Friday?)
But really, the main reason this experience has changed is because Friday doesn’t mean anything anymore. Every day now sort of feels like a Tuesday. And worse, a Tuesday without the “Two For Tuesday” rock ballads getting cranked out by the likes of Zeppelin, Floyd, and the Stones on classic rock stations all over the country. Actually, maybe that’s the real reason for the decline in the Friday Five O’Clock Whistle? Nobody listens to the radio anymore. But regardless, I’m here to bring it back. Right now…So…uh, here goes…
(Train Whistle Plays) What time is it? It’s 5 o’ clock! Welcome to the Friday Five O’Clock Whistle!! Whew!! Take this job and shove it! Ya hear that Boss Johnson?! Or whatever you’re name is! Quit workin’ me like a dawg! It’s quittin’ time! Everybody’s workin’ for the weekend! Boss Johnson. Everybody’s going off the deepend! If you want a piece of my heart, you had better start from the start! You know why? Because I don’t want to work, I just want to bang on my drum all day! Are you with me, Boss Johnson? I really don’t want to work. I would much prefer banging on my drum all the live long day! How do you like that?!! Huh?! I’ll bang on this drum like a frickin’ crazy person! What? There’s no drum set here? Well then, I’ll bang on this computer here! Ha! Check it out! I’m banging on it like crazy! Wait, you think I’m breaking the computer? Awww, is that so? Well how would you like it if I smashed it against this wall in front of me? Oh you wouldn’t like that? Well that’s too bad! Ha-ha! Here goes! (Smashes computer) Whew! Friday! 5 o’clock! (Long pause) What? Are you gonna fire me or something? Oh, you’re not? But I still have to clean this mess up? And I owe you a computer? O-kay. Sorry, ’bout that Boss Johnson. (Pause) Friday 5 O’Clock Whistle, huh?! Ain’t nuthin’ like it!!!!! (Jumps up Toyota-style and freezes in mid-air)
(Fade out on Loverboy guitar solo)
Also for those of you who are coming here to get the audio of the Friday Five O’Clock Whistle, here’s a link to the MP3 (thanks to Jeff below):
December 8th, 2006 at 8:31 pm
do you know anywhere to get the actual audio for the old 96 rock of Atlanta Friday 5 o’clock whistle?
thanks, jeff
December 11th, 2006 at 10:59 am
Hey Jeff,
Sorry I don’t know where to get the audio for 96 rock’s Friday 5 o’clock whistle. You could try contacting the station or go on their website. I still have it in my head if you need to sing it back to you.
Thanks for coming to the site.
-Rob
February 23rd, 2007 at 7:07 pm
YEA , I WANNA BRING THAT BACK WHERE DO I GET THE OLD AUDIO FOR THAT ? DO YOU KNOW ??
March 4th, 2007 at 12:52 am
I miss the 5 o-clock whistle so much! i was only in elementry school when it was still on, but my dad would pick my brother and I up from school and we would get home just in time for the whistle so we would ride around the ole chestnut tree in the back yard listening to it. I miss those days. I would love to find the audio for the whistle though.
September 7th, 2007 at 3:10 pm
I have looked every where for that audio and can not find it. I have even emailed the station to see if there was some way that I could get a copy of it with no luck. They told me that they didnt have it around anymore. So if anyone knows where to find this please let me know!!!
January 13th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
I have read search results until my eyes are perma-crossed. Can’t find it anywhere - or at least my favorite part. About being chained to our chairs, the chairs were chained to the desks, which were chained to the floor, and the end seemed near. But we rose up and smashed our chaines, we broke our slave drivers itty bitty balls, etc. Because it’s Friday! Friday! Friiiiiidaayy! Please, someone - anyone - where does that quote come from?
March 13th, 2008 at 2:21 am
http://www.01-mp3search.com/top53-5-o-clock-whistle.html
April 5th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Hi, just need to know if anyone has been able to get this five o’clock whistle mp3 to download? All I can ever get it to do is have me download some other program and it searches for it but I can’t figure out how to gwet it to download.
Any ideas???
May 15th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
Hi. Yeah, I wish I could also find a recording from some of the Friday 5 o’clock whistle programs from WKLS 96-Rock. I used to live in Atlanta and this was always the official kick-off for the weekend! I actually had made a recording many many years ago but think I left it on a boat up at Lake Lanier….bummer! Wish I still had it. Anyway, if someone ends up finding and old recording I would be interested in getting a copy.
May 30th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
I am interested in a copy a well and would be willing to pay for it.
June 4th, 2008 at 7:25 am
I would too, if we’re talking about the same one. I remember some insane rant that started like this … the workers were chained to their desks… and went on … but we broke their little-bitty balls … and went on to say it’s Friday! Friday! Friday! and a whistle blew.
Is this what Patrick was mentioning? Does anyone remember this, more of the words, and where to find it?
I, too would buy this.
July 8th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
I now have this 96 rock weekend whistle. If you’d like to have it email me and ask for it.
jjw400@aol.com