Anything Goes / Anything You Can Do from Anything Goes / Annie Get Your Gun… Read Full Bio ↴Anything Goes / Anything You Can Do from Anything Goes / Annie Get Your Gun, is featured in The Purple Piano Project, the first episode of Season Three. The song is sung at the interest meeting for the New York Academy of the Dramatic Arts. It is performed by Harmony with other NYADA applicants.

Anything Goes/Anything You Can Do
Glee Cast Lyrics

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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

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 (No)
Yes, I am! (No)

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 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

In olden days a glimpse of stocking
Was looked on as something shocking
But now, God knows anything Goes

Yes! (No) i (You)
Can! (Can't)

Anything goes!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Anything Goes/Anything You Can Do" by the Glee Cast depict a whimsical and sarcastic commentary on the changing norms and values in society over time. The song starts by referencing the arrival of the Puritans at Plymouth Rock and the shock they experienced, highlighting how times have changed since then. The lyrics suggest that if the Puritans were to experience a shock today, it would be even more drastic, with Plymouth Rock metaphorically landing on them instead.

The song then transitions to commenting on how in the past, something as innocent as a glimpse of a stocking was considered scandalous, but in modern times, "Anything Goes." This shift in societal standards is further emphasized by the mention of authors who used to use sophisticated language but now resort to four-letter words. The message here is that norms and taboos have evolved significantly over the years.

The playful banter between the male and female voices in the song adds a comedic element as they compete playfully about who can outdo the other. The back-and-forth exchange of claiming to be greater than the other person, holding notes longer, and asserting their talents creates a humorous and competitive dynamic. This section not only showcases the light-hearted nature of the song but also reflects the themes of rivalry and one-upmanship.

Overall, the lyrics of "Anything Goes/Anything You Can Do" capture a sense of irony and satire towards the ever-changing nature of societal expectations and individual competitiveness. The juxtaposition of past and present norms, the playful challenges between the characters, and the overarching message that "Anything Goes" all contribute to a lighthearted yet insightful exploration of how perception and behavior have shifted over time.

Anything Goes/Anything You Can DoGlee Cast Lyrics

Oboh Emma

Anything Goes/Anything You Can Do
Glee Cast Lyrics