Anything Goes
Frank Sinatra with Nelson Riddle and his Orchestra Lyrics

Times have changed
The ways of the world have evolved

And we've often rewound the clock
Sometimes we think back to the past

Since the Puritans got a shock
Since the Puritans experienced a rude awakening

When they landed on Plymouth Rock.
When they arrived at Plymouth Rock

If today
In the modern day

Any shock they should try to stem
Any shock they try to prevent

'Stead of landing on Plymouth Rock,
Instead of landing at Plymouth Rock

Plymouth Rock would land on them.
Plymouth Rock would land on them instead

In olden days, a glimpse of stocking
In the past, a view of a woman's leg

Was looked on as something shocking.
Was considered scandalous behavior

But now, God knows,
But now, it's anyone's guess

Anything goes.
Anything is socially acceptable

Good authors too who once knew better words
Authors who had a larger vocabulary

Now only use four-letter words
Now only use swear words

Writing prose.
Writing stories and novels

If driving fast cars you like,
If you enjoy driving fast cars

If low bars you like,
If you like dive bars

If old hymns you like,
If you like old religious songs

If bare limbs you like,
If you like nudity

If Mae West you like,
If you like the performer Mae West

Or me undressed you like,
If you enjoy seeing me (Frank Sinatra) undressed

Why, nobody will oppose.
Why, no one will object

When ev'ry night the set that's smart is in-
When every night the trendy crowd is attending

Truding in nudist parties in
Crashing nudist gatherings

Studios.
Film studios

When Missus Ned McLean (God bless her)
When the wife of Ned McLean

Can get Russian reds to "yes" her,
Can convince Russian communists to agree with her

Then I suppose
Then I guess

Anything goes.
Anything is possible

When Rockefeller still can hoard en-
When the wealthy Rockefellers continue to accumulate

Ough money to let Max Gordon
Enough money to allow Max Gordon

Produce his shows.
To produce his theatrical productions

The world has gone mad today
The world has become insane

And good's bad today,
What is good is now considered bad

And black's white today,
What is black is now considered white

And day's night today,
What is day is now considered night

And that gent today
And that gentleman today

You gave a cent today
You gave a penny today

Once had several chateaux.
Once owned several large estates

When folks who still can ride in jitneys
When people who still travel by jitney

Find out Vanderbilts and Whitneys
Learn that the Vanderbilts and Whitneys

Lack baby clo'es,
Do not have baby clothes

If Sam Goldwyn can with great conviction
If Sam Goldwyn can convincingly

Instruct Anna Sten in diction,
Teach Anna Sten how to speak

Then Anna shows
Then Anna demonstrates

Anything goes.
Anything is possible

When you hear that Lady Mendl standing up
When you hear that Lady Mendl is standing up

Now turns a handspring landing up-
Now does a handspring landing

On her toes,
On her tiptoes

Anything goes.
Anything is possible

Just think of those shocks you've got
Think about the shocks you've experienced

And those knocks you've got
And the hardships you've faced

And those blues you've got
And the sadness you've experienced

From that news you've got
From the news you've received

And those pains you've got
And the pain you've experienced

(If any brains you've got)
(If you have any brain at all)

From those little radios.
From those small radios

So Missus R., with all her trimmin's,
So Mrs. R., with all her accessories

Can broadcast a bed from Simmons
Can advertise a bed from Simmons

'Cause Franklin knows
Because Franklin D. Roosevelt understands

Anything goes.
Anything is possible