Anything You Can Do
Caroline O'Connor Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Anything you can do, I can do better.
I can do anything better than you.

No you can't.
Yes, I can.
No, you can't.
Yes, I can.
No, you can't.
Yes, I can, Yes, I can!

Anything you can be, I can be greater.
Sooner or later I'm greater than you.

No, you're not.
Yes, I am.
No, you're not.
Yes, I am.
No, you're not!.
Yes, I am, Yes, I am!

I can shoot a partridge, with a single cartridge.
I can get a sparrow, with a bow and arrow.
I can live on bread and cheese.
And only on that?
Yes.
So can a rat!

Any note you can reach, I can go higher.
I can sing anything higher than you.
No, you can't.
Yes, I can.
No, you can't.
Yes, I can.
No, you can't.
Yes, I can.
No, you can't.
Yes, I can.
No, you can't.
Yes, I CAN!

Anything you can buy, I can buy cheaper.
I can buy anything cheaper than you.

Fifty cents?
Forty cents!
Thirty cents?
Twenty cents!
No, you can't!
Yes, I can,
Yes, I can!

Anything you can say, I can say softer.
I can say anything softer than you.
No, you can't.
Yes, I can.
No, you can't.
Yes, I can.
No, you can't.
Yes, I can.
YES, I CAN!

I can drink my liquor faster than a flicker.
I can drink it quicker and get even sicker!
I can open any safe.
Without bein' caught?
Yes.
That's what I thought you crook!

Any note you can hold, I can hold longer.
I can hold any note longer than you.
No, you can't.
Yes, I can
No, you can't.
Yes, I can
No, you can't.
Yes, I can.
Yes, I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I CA-A-A-A-N!
Yes, you ca-a-a-an!

Anything you can wear, I can wear better.
In what you wear I'd look better than you.

In my coat?
In your vest!
In my shoes?
In your hat!
No, you can't!
Yes, I can.
Yes, I can!

Anything you can say, I can say faster.
I can say anything faster than you.
No, you can't.
Yes, I can.
No, you can't.
Yes, I can.
No,you can't.
Yes I can!

I can jump a hurdle.
I can wear a girdle.
I can knit a sweater.
I can fill it better!
I can do most anything!
Can you bake a pie?
No.
Neither can I.

Anything you can sing, I can sing sweeter.
I can sing anything sweeter than you.
No, you can't.
Yes, I can.
No, you can't.
Yes, I can.
No, you can't.
Yes, I can.
No, you can't, can't, can't.
Yes, I can, can, can.





Yes, I can!
No, you can't!

Overall Meaning

"Anything You Can Do" is a classic vaudeville-style duet between two characters, typically a man and a woman, who engage in a playful, competitive back-and-forth exchange. The song's lyrics are built around the central theme of one-upmanship, with each character trying to outdo the other by claiming to be better at a variety of activities and skills.


The song is notable for its catchy melody and playful lyrics, which have made it a popular choice for musical theater productions, as well as a frequently covered standard in the pop and jazz worlds. The song was written by Irving Berlin for the 1946 musical "Annie Get Your Gun," which tells the story of sharpshooter Annie Oakley.


The song's lyrics are notable for their use of repetition, as each character repeats their lines multiple times in an effort to prove their superiority. The chorus, in particular, features a call-and-response structure, with each character confidently asserting that they can do anything better than the other.


From a broader perspective, the song can be seen as a celebration of healthy competition between two equals. The characters' competition is playful rather than malicious, and ultimately serves to highlight their shared strengths and talents.


Line by Line Meaning

Anything you can do, I can do better.
I am better than you in everything that you can do.


I can do anything better than you.
I am capable of performing better than you in any task.


No you can't.
You cannot do it better than me.


Yes, I can.
I am confident that I can do it better than you.


Anything you can be, I can be greater.
I can do everything that you can do, or even better.


Sooner or later I'm greater than you.
I will become greater than you in everything you can be.


I can shoot a partridge, with a single cartridge.
I can hit a bird with precision using only one shot.


I can get a sparrow, with a bow and arrow.
I can catch a small bird with a weapon that requires more skill than just one shot.


I can live on bread and cheese.
I am capable of surviving on simple and basic food.


And only on that?
Is that all you can eat?


Yes.
Yes, that is correct.


So can a rat!
Even a rat can live on bread and cheese.


Any note you can reach, I can go higher.
I can sing higher notes than you.


I can sing anything higher than you.
I can reach higher notes than you in any song.


No, you can't.
You cannot reach the same notes as I do.


Yes, I can.
I am confident that I can reach higher notes than you.


Anything you can buy, I can buy cheaper.
I can purchase anything that you can buy, but at a cheaper price.


I can buy anything cheaper than you.
I can get any item at a lower cost than you can.


Fifty cents?
Can you buy it cheaper than fifty cents?


Forty cents!
Yes, I can buy it for forty cents.


Thirty cents?
Even less than thirty cents, I can buy it cheaper.


Twenty cents!
Yes, I can buy it cheaper for only twenty cents.


No, you can't!
You cannot purchase it cheaper than me.


Anything you can say, I can say softer.
I can speak in a softer tone than you.


I can say anything softer than you.
My voice can be gentler than yours in saying anything.


No, you can't.
You cannot say it as softly as I can.


Yes, I can.
I am capable of speaking in a softer voice.


I can drink my liquor faster than a flicker.
I can drink alcohol more quickly than anyone else.


I can drink it quicker and get even sicker!
I can be faster in getting drunk, and it can make me even sicker.


I can open any safe.
I have the ability to open any safe.


Without bein' caught?
Can you open it without getting caught?


Yes.
Yes, I can open it without getting caught.


That's what I thought you crook!
I suspected you were not trustworthy.


Any note you can hold, I can hold longer.
I can maintain a note longer than you can.


I can hold any note longer than you.
I can reach a note with a sustained pitch longer than you can.


Yes, I can
I am confident of being able to maintain the note longer than you.


Yes, I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I CA-A-A-A-N!
I can do it and hold the note for a long time.


Anything you can wear, I can wear better.
I look better than you in any clothes you wear.


In what you wear I'd look better than you.
Even if we wore the same thing, I would still look better than you.


No, you can't!
You cannot look better than me in the same clothes.


Yes, I can.
I think I would look better than you in the same clothes.


Anything you can say, I can say faster.
I can speak faster than you.


I can say anything faster than you.
I can speak any words more quickly than you.


No, you can't.
You cannot speak faster than me.


Yes, I can.
I am capable of speaking more quickly than you.


I can jump a hurdle.
I can jump over obstacles.


I can wear a girdle.
I can wear a tight-fitting undergarment.


I can knit a sweater.
I have the ability to make a knitted garment.


I can fill it better!
I am skilled in making the sweater fit perfectly.


I can do most anything!
I am capable of doing many things.


Can you bake a pie?
Can you make a pie?


No.
I cannot do that.


Neither can I.
I am not able to make a pie as well.


Anything you can sing, I can sing sweeter.
I can sing any song but with a sweeter-sounding voice.


I can sing anything sweeter than you.
I can sing any song better than you with a more pleasant voice.


No, you can't.
You cannot sing sweeter than me.


Yes, I can.
I am capable of singing more beautifully than you.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: IRVING BERLIN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

J. G. Lewis

Really a very entertaining version....! I love this version.

Dorene Chase

CAROLINE IS THE VERY BEST....LOVE THIS PERFORMANCE

MIGUEL DE LA CRUZ

Casi siempre las canciones que se escuchan en las películas, al igual que la música, son las mejores versiones. Ésta me encanta. Es la mejor

PsilliPig

I think O'Conner outperforms Lupone, Merman and every other version I've heard. I know she is playing the part of Merman in film, but she is so clear and fun to listen to, and her voice is so on target, it's great. Personally I'm not into all that smushy girl personality and slurring of words that seems to be the hot thing on Broadway anymore. The lyrics as sung by O'Conner are crisp and tight, like the jazz of the era, and really send one back in time.

John Wilson

Love her since I first heard that voice. Great Aussie voice. XXXX

Prionel

It's the best arrangement of "Anything Goes" and Caroline O'Connor is simply spectacular!! But...why no video???

YouGandered101

I'm gonna see her in Anything Goes next year!! :)

Kira Renee

This is very good but sad movie 😌

MickCoola

WOOOOOOOooOOOOOOOooOOW

David Bucknell

how come on that image Caroline O'connor is not listed???

More Comments

More Versions