Louis Armstrong (1901 - 1971) was a trumpet player, singer, and bandleader, and is widely regarded as one of the most influential artists in the history of jazz.
Anything Goes
Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong Lyrics
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And we've often rewound the clock
Since the Puritans got a shock
When they landed on Plymouth Rock
If today
Any shock they should try to stem
'Stead of landing on Plymouth Rock
Plymouth Rock would land on them
In olden days, a glimpse of stockings
Was looked on as something shocking
Now, heaven knows
Anything goes
Good authors too, who once knew better words
Now only use four-letter words
Writing prose
Anything goes
The world has gone mad today
And good's bad today
And black's white today
And day's night today
When most guys today
That women prize today
Are just silly gigolos
So though I'm not a great romancer
I know that I'm bound to answer
When you propose
Anything goes
The world has gone mad today
And good's bad today
And black's white today
And day's night today
When most guys today
That women prize today
Are just silly gigolos
So though I'm not a great romancer
I know that I'm bound to answer
When you propose
Anything goes
Anything goes
Ella Fitzgerald's song "Anything Goes" talks about the shift in societal norms and expectations over time. The first verse talks about how the Puritans' shock at their landing on Plymouth Rock is nothing compared to what they would experience if they were to see how things have changed today. It suggests that the moral standards and social conventions that the Puritans so firmly believed in have been upended completely. The second verse picks up on this idea by pointing out how even good authors now use four-letter words in their writing, that would have been unheard of in the past. It also suggests that the world has gone mad, with good being bad, black being white and day being night - highlighting the shift in expectations and how things are not as they seem anymore.
The final verse seems to address matters of love and relationships in the current society. It suggests that the most prized attribute a woman looks for in a man today is just being a silly gigolo, and the singer is saying that they are not a great romancer, but they will still answer when someone proposes - suggesting that even love and relationships have been affected by societal shifts. The chorus, which is repeated multiple times throughout the song, is simply a statement that "Anything goes", meaning that there are no more rules or restrictions and people are free to do as they please.
Line by Line Meaning
Times have changed
Things are not the same as before
And we've often rewound the clock
We have gone back in time several times
Since the Puritans got a shock
Since the Puritans were surprised
When they landed on Plymouth Rock
When they arrived in Plymouth Rock
If today
Assuming present times
Any shock they should try to stem
If any surprise they are trying to prevent
'Stead of landing on Plymouth Rock
Instead of arriving in Plymouth Rock
Plymouth Rock would land on them
They would be the ones caught off guard
In olden days, a glimpse of stockings
In the past, even a glimpse of a woman's stockings was considered scandalous
Was looked on as something shocking
People considered it offensive
Now, heaven knows
Now, who knows what's acceptable
Anything goes
Anything is considered acceptable now
Good authors too, who once knew better words
Even skilled writers who previously used sophisticated language
Now only use four-letter words
Now resort to vulgar language
Writing prose
Even in writing, anything is allowed
Anything goes
Anything is considered acceptable now
The world has gone mad today
The world is crazy right now
And good's bad today
What was considered good before is now bad
And black's white today
What was considered black before is now white
And day's night today
What was considered daytime before is now nighttime
When most guys today
When most men nowadays
That women prize today
Are the men women find attractive today
Are just silly gigolos
Are just foolish male escorts
So though I'm not a great romancer
Even though I'm not the most romantic person
I know that I'm bound to answer
I know that I should respond
When you propose
When you ask me something
Anything goes
Anything is considered acceptable now
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cole Porter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Camila Almaraz
Times have changed
And we've often rewound the clock
Since the Puritans got a shock
When they landed on Plymouth Rock
If today
Any shock they should try to stem
'Stead of landing on Plymouth Rock
Plymouth Rock would land on them
In olden days, a glimpse of stockings
Was looked on as something shocking
Now, heaven knows
Anything goes
Good authors too, who once knew better words
Now only use four-letter words
Writing prose
Anything goes
The world has gone mad today
And good's bad today
And black's white today
And day's night today
When most guys today
That women prize today
Are just silly gigolos
So though I'm not a great romancer
I know that I'm bound to answer
When you propose
Anything goes
The world has gone mad today
And good's bad today
And black's white today
And day's night today
When most guys today
That women prize today
Are just silly gigolos
So though I'm not a great romancer
I know that I'm bound to answer
When you propose
Anything goes
Anything goes
Cloud 5
Times have changed
And we've often rewound the clock
Since the Puritans got a shock
When they landed on Plymouth Rock.
If today
Any shock they should try to stem
'Stead of landing on Plymouth Rock,
Plymouth Rock would land on them.
In olden days, a glimpse of stocking
Was looked on as something shocking.
But now, God knows,
Anything goes.
Good authors too 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 ev'ry night the set that's smart is in-
Truding in nudist parties in
Studios.
Anything goes.
When Missus Ned McLean (God bless her)
Can get Russian reds to "yes" her,
Then I suppose
Anything goes.
When Rockefeller still can hoard en-
Ough 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 day's night today,
And that gent today
You gave a cent today
Once had several chateaux.
When folks who still can ride in jitneys
Find out Vanderbilts and Whitneys
Lack baby clo'es,
Anything goes.
If Sam Goldwyn can with great conviction
Instruct Anna Sten in diction,
Then 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 that news you've got
And those pains you've got
(If any brains you've got)
From those little radios.
So Missus R., with all her trimmin's,
Can broadcast a bed from Simmons
'Cause Franklin knows
Anything goes.
Anna G
[POL>ENG] Wisława Szymborska (Nobel 1996)
Ella w niebie
Modliła się do Boga,
modliła gorąco,
żeby z niej zrobił
białą szczęśliwą dziewczynę.
A jeśli już za późno na takie przemiany,
to chociaż, Panie Boże, spójrz ile ja ważę
i odejmij mi z tego przynajmniej połowę.
Ale łaskawy Bóg powiedział Nie.
Położył tylko rękę na jej sercu,
zajrzał do gardła, pogłaskał po głowie.
A kiedy będzie już po wszystkim - dodał -
sprawisz mi radość przybywając do mnie,
pociecho moja czarna, rozśpiewana kłodo.
*************************************
Ella In Heaven
She prayed to God
and she prayed ardently
to turn her
into a white and happy girl.
But if it’s too late for such a make-over,
please, oh Lord, look at how much I weigh
and take away at least a half of it.
But kind God said No.
He just laid His hand on her heart,
peeped down the throat, patted on her head.
And when it’s all over – He added –
You’ll make me happy by coming to me,
my black joy, you singing log.
John
I love how clear her voice is.... every word pronounced beautifully.....love her..
Raymond Wilcox
You're right. It's usually belted out, like it should be, but Ella does give us a fair chance at understanding every word.
WackyD
she is firmly near the top of the list of great musicians/vocalists.
SG Hopkins
My husband and I had the huge honor of hearing Ella Fitzgerald perform in the early 1970's at the Fairmont Hotel in Dallas. We were in a large, yet intimate tiered Bar and we were sitting near the back. A waiter came and said Ms Fitzgerald would like us to move down front to a small round table for 2. My husband and I were in our mid twenties and perhaps she thought we might be honeymooners. But we had the wonderful experience of a lifetime to see and hear beautiful Ella sing for two hours. What a classy lady whose voice was incredible even in her later years.
Maggi Noodles
Liar
Silvia Figueroa
Love your beautiful story
Ella Fitzgerald has been in my life with her music since the 70s
How I wish I could have been there that day with you
Sel Nurum
😍😍😍
Enodd_Felix
@Maggi Noodles who hurt you bro
Maggi Noodles
@Enodd_Felix search in ytb Petra funeral bgm.
NukLeaR
The original song is definitely one of my, if not my favorite song, and I must say this is an amazing cover of an equally amazing song. Ella's voice and pitch are absolutely spot on, and the added vocals fit perfectly. All in all the song is a wonderful cover and I will definitely recommend it to fellow fans of the original