I've Got Five Dollars
Anita O'Day · Other Songs - Anita O'Day
I'm a gonna have some wine women and song
I gotta workin' each week but that's alright
I've got five dollars and it's Saturday night
Music and dancing pretty and fun
It's gonna go on till way past one
I'm a gonna go where the lights're bright
I've got five dollars and it's Saturday night
Gonna have fun tonight gonna get right tonight
Everything will be alright cause tonight is Saturday night (hey)
While other folks are wonderin' what the future may bring
I'm a gonna have fun and feel no pain
My pants are ragged but that's alright
I've got five dollars and it's Saturday night
Music and dancing
I've Got Five Dollars
Anita O'Day's 1939 recording of 'I've Got Five Dollars' stands as a quintessential example of the swing era's vocal jazz style. As a lead singer for the Benny Goodman Orchestra, O'Day delivered a performance characterized by her distinctive, breathy tone and impeccable phrasing, perfectly complementing the band's hot, driving rhythm section. The song, a popular standard from the late 1930s, captures the optimism and social commentary often found in the era's music, reflecting the economic realities of the time through its narrative of financial struggle. This recording showcases O'Day's ability to blend pop sensibilities with sophisticated jazz improvisation, cementing her reputation as a leading vocalist of her generation. Her work with Goodman helped define the sound of swing, influencing countless subsequent artists in the genre.