W. Axl Rose (born William Bruce Rose Jr.; born February … Read Full Bio ↴W. Axl Rose
W. Axl Rose (born William Bruce Rose Jr.; born February 6, 1962) is an American musician, singer, songwriter and record producer. He is best known for being the lead vocalist and lyricist of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, and has also been the band's sole constant member since their inception in 1985. He has also toured with Australian rock band AC/DC, deputising for Brian Johnson after Johnson's hearing loss in 2016. Rose has been named one of the greatest singers of all time by various media outlets, including Rolling Stone and NME.
Born and raised in Lafayette, Indiana, Rose moved in the early 1980s to Los Angeles, where he became active in the local hard rock scene and joined several bands, including Rapidfire, Hollywood Rose and L.A. Guns. In 1985, he co-founded Guns N' Roses, with whom he had great success and recognition in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Their first album, Appetite for Destruction (1987), has sold in excess of 30 million copies worldwide, and is the best-selling debut album of all time in the U.S. with 18 million units sold. Its full-length follow-ups, the twin albums Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II (1991), were also widely successful; they respectively debuted at No. 2 and No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and have sold a combined 35 million copies worldwide.
After 1994, following the conclusion of their two-and-a-half-year Use Your Illusion Tour, Rose disappeared from public life for several years, while the band disintegrated due to personal and musical differences. As its sole remaining original member, he was able to continue working under the Guns N' Roses banner because he had legally obtained the band name. In 2001, he resurfaced with a new line-up of Guns N' Roses at Rock in Rio 3, and subsequently played periodic concert tours to promote the long-delayed Chinese Democracy (2008), which undersold the music industry's commercial expectations despite positive reviews upon its release. In 2012, Rose was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Guns N' Roses, though he declined to attend the event and requested exclusion from the Hall. In 2016, the same year as he toured with AC/DC, Rose partially reunited the "classic" lineup of Guns N' Roses and has since toured the world as part of the Not in This Lifetime... Tour.
Anything Goes
Axl Rose Lyrics
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And we've ofter rewound the clock
Since the puritans got a shock
When they landed on Plymouth rock
If today any shock they might try to stem
'Stead of landing of Plymouth rock
Plymouth rock would land on them.
Was looked on as something shocking
But now God knows
Anything goes
Good authors to
Who once knew better words
Now only use four letter words
Writing prose
Anything goes
If driving fast cars you like
If low bars you like
If old hymns you like
If bare limbs you like
If Mae West you like
Or me undressed you like
Why nobody will oppose
When every night
The set thats smart
Is intruding on nudist parties
In studios
Anything goes
When Mrs. Ned McClean God bless her
Can get Russian reds to yes her
Than I suppose
Anything goes
When Rockafeller still can hoard
Enough money to let Max Gordon
Produce his shows
Anything goes
The world has gone mad today
And good's bad today
And black's white today
And days night today
And that gent today
You gave a cent today
Once owned several chateaux
When folks
Who still can ride in Jitney's
Find out Vanderbilts and Whitney's
Lack baby clo'es
Anything goes
When Sam Goldwyn
Can with great conviction
Instruct Anna Sten in diction
Than Anna shows
Anything goes
When you hear that
Lady Mendl standing up
Now turns a handspring landing up
On her toes
Anything goes
Just think of those shocks you've got
And those knocks you've got
And those blues you've got
From those news you've got
And those pains you've got
(if any brains you've got)
From those little radios
So Mrs. R.
With all her trimmin's
Can broadcast a bed from Simmon's
Cause Franklin knows
Anything goes
The song "Anything Goes" is a classic example of Axl Rose's songwriting style. He explores the rapid changes that have occurred in society over time, from Puritans being shocked by Plymouth rock to modern times where "anything goes." The lyrics are a commentary on the social norms and mores of society and highlight how much has changed in a relatively short time.
The song's opening line, "Times have changed, and we've often rewound the clock," is an acknowledgment that even though society has progressed, there are always certain aspects that seem to stay the same. The lyrics go on to suggest that if those who were shocked by the Puritan's values were to return today, they would be in for a surprise. Today, people are more open-minded and embrace a more relaxed attitude about lifestyles that were once frowned upon.
Axl Rose further explores how language and communication have changed over time, lamenting that what were once considered "better words" have been replaced by four-letter words. Furthermore, he looks at how the entertainment world and its standards have changed, with nudist parties and other risqué activities now becoming part of everyday life. The song concludes that "anything goes" and no one is there to oppose; people are free to do as they please.
Line by Line Meaning
Times have changed,
The world has evolved over time.
And we've ofter rewound the clock
And yet, sometimes it seems like we're going backwards.
Since the puritans got a shock
Since the time of the Puritans, we've become more liberal and less strict.
When they landed on Plymouth rock
When the Puritans originally came to America.
If today any shock they might try to stem
If anyone today tried to stop change from happening.
'Stead of landing of Plymouth rock
Instead of things staying the same as they were when the Puritans arrived.
Plymouth rock would land on them.
They would be the ones who would be shocked.
In olden days a glimpse of stocking
In the past, seeing a woman's leg was seen as scandalous.
Was looked on as something shocking
People were scandalized by such a sight.
But now God knows
But now, such things are commonplace.
Anything goes
Anything is possible or acceptable.
Good authors to
Even good writers.
Who once knew better words
Who used to use more sophisticated language.
Now only use four letter words
Now only use curse words or vulgar language.
Writing prose
Even in their writing.
Anything goes
Anything is possible or acceptable.
If driving fast cars you like
If you enjoy driving fast cars.
If low bars you like
If you like seedy dives or bars.
If old hymns you like
If you like old-fashioned religious songs.
If bare limbs you like
If you like seeing scantily-clad people.
If Mae West you like
If you're a fan of actress Mae West and her risqué comedy.
Or me undressed you like
If you like seeing Axl Rose without clothes on.
Why nobody will oppose
No one will object to your preferences.
When every night
At all times.
The set thats smart
The fashionable crowd.
Is intruding on nudist parties
Is showing up at parties where people are nude.
In studios
In Hollywood film studios.
Anything goes
Anything is possible or acceptable.
When Mrs. Ned McClean God bless her
When wealthy socialite Mrs. Ned McClean.
Can get Russian reds to yes her
Can convince Russian communists to support her.
Than I suppose
Then anything is possible.
Anything goes
Anything is possible or acceptable.
When Rockafeller still can hoard
When the richest man in America, John D. Rockefeller, can still hold on to his wealth.
Enough money to let Max Gordon
Enough money to allow Broadway prominent Max Gordon.
Produce his shows
To produce his theatrical productions.
Anything goes
Anything is possible or acceptable.
The world has gone mad today
The world is insane right now.
And good's bad today
Even good things are somehow bad.
And black's white today
Everything is turned upside down.
And days night today
Up is down.
And that gent today
Even that respectable man.
You gave a cent today
You gave some charity today.
Once owned several chateaux
At one point owned multiple mansions.
When folks
When ordinary people.
Who still can ride in Jitney's
Who can still afford to ride in a Jitney, a small bus or car that would transport people for a low fare.
Find out Vanderbilts and Whitney's
Discover that even the obscenely rich Vanderbilts and Whitneys.
Lack baby clo'es
Don't even have enough clothes for their babies.
Anything goes
Anything is possible or acceptable.
When Sam Goldwyn
When movie mogul Sam Goldwyn.
Can with great conviction
Can confidently and convincingly.
Instruct Anna Sten in diction
Teach Ukrainian actress Anna Sten how to speak English properly for her American films.
Than Anna shows
Then Anna is able to perform well.
Anything goes
Anything is possible or acceptable.
When you hear that
When you learn that.
Lady Mendl standing up
Elsie de Wolfe, famous socialite and interior designer, experimenting with new dances.
Now turns a handspring landing up
Doing flips and landing on their feet.
On her toes
On the tips of her feet.
Anything goes
Anything is possible or acceptable.
Just think of those shocks you've got
Think of those things that have surprised you.
And those knocks you've got
Think of those times you've been hit or taken a hit in life.
And those blues you've got
Think of those times you've felt down.
From those news you've got
From hearing negative or shocking news.
And those pains you've got
From physical pain you've felt.
(if any brains you've got)
(if you have any intelligence at all)
From those little radios
From listening to the radio, which can be a source of negative or upsetting information.
So Mrs. R.
Referring to a wealthy or powerful woman.
With all her trimmin's
With all her fine clothing and jewelry.
Can broadcast a bed from Simmon's
Can advertise a bed from the famous Simmon's Bed Company.
Cause Franklin knows
Because even the president at that time, Franklin D. Roosevelt, knew that anything goes.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JEROME KERN, OSCAR II HAMMERSTEIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind