Anything Goes
Helen Hobson-/ Cole Porter Lyrics
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And we've often rewound the clock
Since the Puritans got the 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 every night the set that's smart is
Intruding at nudist parties in studios
Anything goes
When the Missus Ned McLean (God bless her)
Can get Russian reds to "yes" her
Then I suppose
Anything goes
When Rockefeller 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 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 clothes
Anything goes
When 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 does 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 Missus R., With all her trimmin's
Can broadcast a bed from Simmons
'Cause Franklin knows
Anything goes
The song "Anything Goes" was written by Cole Porter for the 1934 musical comedy of the same name. The lyrics are a commentary on the changing social norms of the time. The opening lines mention the Puritans who arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts and how things have changed since then. The song goes on to explore the theme of how much society has changed, and how what was once considered taboo is now acceptable.
Porter contrasts the strict morality of the Puritans with the new moral code of the 1930s. He then goes on to discuss how even the world of literature has changed. The line "Good authors, too, who once knew better words, now only use four-letter words, writing prose" is a reference to the changing styles of literature, which became more relaxed and blunt.
The song goes on to list a series of examples of how anything goes in the modern world. This includes fast cars, low bars, old hymns, bare limbs, and even nudity. Porter also makes references to specific people and events of the time, including Mrs. Ned McLean, a socialite known for her extravagant spending, and movie producer Sam Goldwyn.
"Anything Goes" was a hit when it first debuted, and it has remained popular ever since. The song has been covered by many artists over the years, including Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and Tony Bennett. It has also been used in numerous films and stage productions, including the 2011 revival of the musical.
Line by Line Meaning
Times have changed
Things are different now than they were before
And we've often rewound the clock
We've gone back in time many times
Since the Puritans got the shock
Since the Puritans were shocked at what they found in the new world
When they landed on Plymouth Rock
When they first came to America
If today
If things were to happen now
Any shock they should try to stem
If anyone were to try and stop any shocking events
'Stead of landing on Plymouth Rock
Instead of the Puritans coming to America
Plymouth Rock would land on them
They would be the ones to be shocked and surprised
In olden days, a glimpse of stocking
In the past, seeing a woman's leg was considered scandalous
Was looked on as something shocking
People thought it was inappropriate to show too much skin
But now, God knows
Nowadays, anything goes
Anything goes
Anything is acceptable
Good authors, too, who once knew better words
Even respected writers now use vulgar language
Now only use four-letter words
They only use crude language now
Writing prose
In their writing
Anything goes
Anything is acceptable
If driving fast cars you like
If you enjoy driving fast cars
If low bars you like
If you like going to seedy bars
If old hymns you like
If you enjoy old religious songs
If bare limbs you like
If you like seeing bare skin
If Mae West you like
If you're a fan of the movie star Mae West
Or me undressed you like
Or if you like seeing me without clothes
Why, nobody will oppose
No one will object
When every night the set that's smart is
When the fashionable people are
Intruding at nudist parties in studios
Going to parties where people are nude
Anything goes
Anything is acceptable
When the Missus Ned McLean (God bless her)
When Mrs. Ned McLean
Can get Russian reds to "yes" her
Can get the approval of Russian royalty
Then I suppose
I guess
Anything goes
Anything is acceptable
When Rockefeller still can hoard enough money to let Max Gordon
When John D. Rockefeller has enough money to finance Max Gordon's shows
Produce his shows
To make his productions
Anything goes
Anything is acceptable
The world has gone mad today
The world is crazy now
And good's bad today
What's considered good today would have been bad in the past
And black's white today
Things that were once considered dark or bad are now seen as good
And day's night today
The world has been turned upside down
And that gent today
That man today
You gave a cent today
You gave some money to that man today
Once had several chateaux
Once owned several mansions
When folks who still can ride in jitneys
When people who can only afford to ride in cheap cars
Find out Vanderbilts and Whitneys
Learn that the rich Vanderbilt and Whitney families
Lack baby clothes
Don't have enough clothes for their babies
Anything goes
Anything is acceptable
When Sam Goldwyn can with great conviction
When the movie producer Sam Goldwyn speaks with authority
Instruct Anna Sten in diction
Teach Anna Sten how to speak properly
Then Anna shows
Then Anna demonstrates what she has learned
Anything goes
Anything is acceptable
When you hear that Lady Mendl standing up
When you find out that Lady Mendl can do a gymnastics move
Now does a handspring landing up on her toes
Can do an acrobatic move
Anything goes
Anything is acceptable
Just think of those shocks you've got
Think of all the surprises you've had in your life
And those knocks you've got
And all the setbacks you've experienced
And those blues you've got
And all the times you've felt sad
From those news you've got
From all the negative news you've heard
And those pains you've got
And all the physical and emotional pain you've endured
If any brains you've got
If you're sensible
From those little radios
From listening to the radio
So Missus R., With all her trimmin's
So Mrs. Roosevelt, with all her fancy clothes
Can broadcast a bed from Simmons
Can advertise a Simmons bed
'Cause Franklin knows
Because her husband, President Franklin Roosevelt, knows
Anything goes
Anything is acceptable
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cole Porter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind