Chris joined the "Snowflakes", a vocal group of Claude Thornhill's band, and moved on to become Stan Kenton's lead singer. She recorded for Bethlehem records originally and then began a long association with Atlantic records. Her trademark songs are well known to most people familiar with jazz of the 50s and 60s; among them are "Lullaby of Birdland" and "All about Ronnie."
More-complete bio and discography: http://www.mrlucky.com/songbirds/html/jul99/c_cconnor.html
A good obituary can be found on http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/sep/02/chris-connor-obituary
Anything Goes
Chris Connor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
Anyhting 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
Chris Connor's song "Anything Goes" speaks about how much our society has changed, and how what used to be deemed inappropriate is now the norm. The opening lines of the song speak about how much times have changed and how the Puritans, who once saw a shocking surprise upon landing at Plymouth Rock, would be even more surprised today. The idea is that society has come so far that even what was once seen as shocking would no longer turn heads - instead, it has become "anything goes."
The song's lyrics go on to discuss how even the best writers have turned to four-letter words and how there is no longer anything off-limits in writing or creative pursuits. The concept of individualism is paramount in this song - as long as you have an interest in something, no one will stop you from pursuing it. This is exemplified when the lyrics talk about how the "set that's smart" intrudes on nudist parties, showcasing the lack of privacy and how it has become all about societal acceptance.
The lyrics then go on to talk about how even the wealthy have become outrageous with their lifestyles, as a result of the societal shift. The once-elite society members can now party with the lower classes, and it does not matter what kind of clothes you wear. The chorus of the song repeats the idea of "anything goes," emphasizing that anything is acceptable in the current society - a far cry from the more conservative times of the past.
Line by Line Meaning
Times have changed,
The times have changed from what they were before.
And we've ofter rewound the clock
We've often tried to go back to the way things were before.
Since the puritans got a shock
Since the puritans were surprised by what they saw.
When they landed on Plymouth rock
When they arrived in the new world.
If today any shock they might try to stem
If anything shocks them today and they try to stop it.
'stead of landing of Plymouth rock
Instead of arriving in the new world.
Plymouth rock would land on them.
They would end up being surprised themselves.
In olden days a glimpse of stocking
Looking at a bit of leg was considered shocking in the past.
Was looked on as something shocking
It was considered scandalous.
But now God knows
But now who can say?
Anything goes
Anything is fair game now.
Good authors to
Skilled writers who
Who once knew better words
Once wrote more eloquently.
Now only use four letter words
Now only write with short, simple language.
Writing prose
Composing written works.
Anyhting goes
Anything can be written.
If driving fast cars you like
If you enjoy driving quickly,
If low bars you like
If you enjoy dingy bars,
If old hymns you like
If you enjoy antique hymns,
If bare limbs you like
If you enjoy seeing people undressed,
If Mae West you like
If you enjoy the actress Mae West,
Or me undressed you like
Or you enjoy seeing me unclothed,
Why nobody will oppose
And no one will say anything against it.
When every night
Every evening,
The set thats smart
The fashionable and intelligent people.
Is intruding on nudist parties
Are now attending nude parties.
In studios
In film and television studios.
Anything goes
Anything is acceptable now.
When Mrs. Ned McClean God bless her
When Mrs. Ned McClean is praised.
Can get Russian reds to yes her
Can convince Communist Russians to support her.
Than I suppose
I can only imagine.
Anything goes
Anything can happen now.
When Rockafeller still can hoard
When the wealthy are still hoarding.
Enough money to let Max Gordon
Enough wealth to enable Max Gordon.
Produce his shows
To produce entertainments.
Anything goes
Anything is possible.
The world has gone mad today
The world has become crazy today.
And good's bad today
What's considered morally good is now considered bad.
And black's white today
What's dark is now considered light.
And days night today
What's happening at night is now happening during the day.
And that gent today
And that man today.
You gave a cent today
To whom you gave a cent today.
Once owned several chateaux
Once owned multiple large estates.
When folks
When people,
Who still can ride in Jitney's
Who can still ride in inexpensive cars,
Find out Vanderbilts and Whitney's
Discover that the wealthy Vanderbilts and Whitneys,
Lack baby clo'es
Can't afford to buy baby clothes.
Anything goes
Anything can happen.
When Sam Goldwyn
When the Hollywood producer Sam Goldwyn,
Can with great conviction
Can confidently and convincingly,
Instruct Anna Sten in diction
Teach Anna Sten how to speak correctly.
Than Anna shows
Then Anna demonstrates her skills.
Anything goes
Many things are possible.
When you hear that
When you find out that,
Lady Mendl standing up
Lady Mendl, standing up for what she believes in,
Now turns a handspring landing up
Now performs acrobatic stunts.
On her toes
On the tips of her toes.
Anything goes
Anything is permissible.
Just think of those shocks you've got
Remember all those surprising things you've experienced.
And those knocks you've got
And all those blows you've taken.
And those blues you've got
And how sad you've felt.
From those news you've got
From all the news you've heard.
And those pains you've got
From all those physical and emotional pains you've felt.
(if any brains you've got)
(if you have any sense)
From those little radios
From those small radios.
So Mrs. R.
So Mrs. Roosevelt,
With all her trimmin's
With all her fancy accessories.
Can broadcast a bed from Simmon's
Can talk about a comfortable bed from the Simmons company.
Cause Franklin knows
Because Franklin Roosevelt knows that anything is allowed.
Anything goes
Anything can be said or done.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cole Porter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind