Anything
Clifford Lyrics

Times have changed
The world today is much different from how it used to be.

And we've often rewound the clock
We frequently return to the past to look at how things were done then.

Since the Puritans got a shock
The Puritans were shocked when they landed on Plymouth Rock and found a different world than they expected.

When they landed on Plymouth Rock.
The Puritans landed on the Rock that bears the name of their port of entry into the New World.

If today
In modern times,

Any shock they should try to stem
If they tried to stop any shock from happening,

'Stead of landing on Plymouth Rock,
Instead of them ending up shocked.

Plymouth Rock would land on them.
They would be the ones who get the shock.

In olden days, a glimpse of stocking
A bit of women's legs showing used to shock people.

Was looked on as something shocking.
People found an exposed leg scandalous and improper.

But now, God knows,
But now in present-day society,

Anything goes.
People do and say whatever they want without fear of disapproval.

Good authors too who once knew better words
Even well-respected writers no longer choose high-level vocabulary.

Now only use four-letter words
Now they only use simple, crude slang.

Writing prose.
When they're writing their books.

Anything goes.
Anything's acceptable.

If driving fast cars you like,
If racing hot cars is your thing,

If low bars you like,
Or you prefer trashy clubs,

If old hymns you like,
Or you enjoy classic religious songs,

If bare limbs you like,
Or you desire seeing scantily-clad people,

If Mae West you like,
Or maybe you watch Mae West movies,

Or me undressed you like,
Or you have a fetish for my body being naked,

Why, nobody will oppose.
No one will disapprove if you follow your likes and desires.

When ev'ry night the set that's smart is in-
When the cool, fashionable crowd gathers nightly,

Truding in nudist parties in
Invading nudist parties,

Studios.
Even in high-end studios where they film movies.

When Missus Ned McLean (God bless her)
When wealthy people like Ned McLean's wife,

Can get Russian reds to "yes" her,
Can persuade Russian leaders to agree with her,

Then I suppose
Then I guess,

Anything goes.
Anything's possible and acceptable if money and power can achieve it.

When Rockefeller still can hoard en-
Even when Rockefeller is still able to accumulate a lot of money,

Ough money to let Max Gordon
So much money that he can fund Max Gordon's theater shows,

Produce his shows,
And contribute to the production activities.

Anything goes.
When there's enough money, anything is possible.

The world has gone mad today
The world's becoming insane today,

And good's bad today,
What's virtuous is considered uncool today,

And black's white today,
Even concepts such as black and white are being redefined and swapped today,

And day's night today,
Even the most fundamental principles are being distorted beyond recognition today,

And that gent today
And that man today,

You gave a cent today
You contributed for him today,

Once had several chateaux.
This man once owned a lot of big French castles.

When folks who still can ride in jitneys
When people who can only afford to ride in a cheap bus or jitney,

Find out Vanderbilts and Whitneys
Discover that Vanderbilts and Whitneys,

Lack baby clo'es,
Are struggling to afford baby clothes,

Anything goes.
Anything's still possible if you're wealthy enough.

If Sam Goldwyn can with great conviction
If Sam Goldwyn has enough confidence,

Instruct Anna Sten in diction,
To teach Anna Sten pronunciation,

Then Anna shows
Then Anna Sten proves herself competent,

Anything goes.
Anyone can achieve anything if properly taught and motivated.

When you hear that Lady Mendl standing up
When you learn that Lady Mendl can do many amazing acrobatics,

Now turns a handspring landing up-
Doing summersaults with such ease and grace,

On her toes,
Balancing on her toes like a dancer.

Anything goes.
People are free to do anything and show off their talents.

Just think of those shocks you've got
Just remember those surprises and shocks you've experienced,

And those knocks you've got
The struggles and setbacks you've faced,

And those blues you've got
The sadness and frustration you've endured,

From that news you've got
From that information you've received,

And those pains you've got
The aches and pains you've suffered,

(If any brains you've got)
(If you have any intellect left),

From those little radios.
From the small, ubiquitous radios that bring so much good and bad news.

So Missus R., with all her trimmin's,
So Mrs. R, with all her fancy clothes and jewelry,

Can broadcast a bed from Simmons
Can advertise a Simmons bed through media channels.

'Cause Franklin knows
Because Franklin D. Roosevelt knows,

Anything goes.
Everything is possible if the President thinks so.