Overture
Kern/Hammerstein Lyrics

Times have changed,
The way things are now is different from the way they used to be.

And we've often rewound the clock
We have tried to go back in time to the way things were before.

Since the puritans got a shock
Ever since the Puritans were surprised and upset.

When they landed on Plymouth rock
When they arrived in America at Plymouth Rock.

If today any shock they might try to stem
If there were any shock they wanted to prevent nowadays.

'Stead of landing on Plymouth rock
Instead of arriving in America at Plymouth Rock.

Plymouth rock would land on them.
They would be very surprised by what they found in America.

In olden days a glimpse of stocking
A small view of a woman's leg used to be scandalous.

Was looked on as something shocking
People were very shocked and offended by it.

But now God knows
But nowadays, who knows what people will find shocking?

Anything goes
Almost anything can happen without anyone being surprised or offended.

Good authors to
Even good writers who.

Who once knew better words
Who used to use more sophisticated vocabulary.

Now only use four letter words
Now only use simple, vulgar words.

Writing prose
When writing their books.

Anything goes
They can write and say almost anything now without worrying about being too vulgar.

If driving fast cars you like
If you enjoy driving fast cars.

If low bars you like
If you enjoy hanging out in cheap bars.

If old hymns you like
If you enjoy singing old-fashioned church songs.

If bare limbs you like
If you like seeing people wearing revealing clothing.

If Mae West you like
If you're a fan of the actress Mae West.

Or me undressed you like
If you want to see me naked.

Why nobody will oppose
No one will stop you from doing what you want, regardless of how scandalous it may seem.

When every night
Every evening.

The set that's smart
The fashionable people.

Is intruding on nudist parties
Are attending parties where everyone is naked.

In studios
At the movie studios where they film these parties.

Anything goes
Anything can happen now, even in public.

When Mrs. Ned McClean God bless her
When the wealthy and influential Mrs. Ned McClean.

Can get Russian reds to yes her
Can convince the Russian communists to cooperate with her.

Than I suppose
I can imagine that anything is possible.

Anything goes
Anything is possible now that the world is changing so much.

When Rockafeller still can hoard
Even though Rockafeller is very wealthy and greedy.

Enough money to let Max Gordon
Has enough money to finance Max Gordon's theater shows.

Produce his shows
Put on the shows that Max Gordon wants to create.

Anything goes
Money can buy almost anything you want.

The world has gone mad today
The world is changing very quickly.

And good's bad today
Some things that used to be good are now bad.

And black's white today
Things that used to be black are now white, metaphorically speaking.

And day's night today
Things that used to happen during the day now happen at night.

And that gent today
That man who is so fashionable nowadays.

You gave a cent today
You gave him some money today.

Once owned several chateaux
Probably used to be very wealthy and have many French country mansions.

When folks
When people who still.

Who still can ride in Jitney's
Who can still afford to ride in those very cheap cars.

Find out Vanderbilts and Whitney's
Discover that even the richest, most powerful families are experiencing financial hardship.

Lack baby clo'es
Can't even afford to buy clothes for their children.

Anything goes
Anyone can become poor, regardless of their social status.

When Sam Goldwyn
When the wealthy and powerful Sam Goldwyn.

Can with great conviction
Can be very convincing when he talks.

Instruct Anna Sten in diction
Teach the actress Anna Sten how to pronounce her words correctly.

Than Anna shows
Then Anna will be very successful in the movie industry.

Anything goes
It doesn't matter how low-class or vulgar you are, as long as you can be successful in show business.

When you hear that
When you learn that.

Lady Mendl standing up
The sophisticated socialite Lady Mendl.

Now turns a handspring landing up
Can suddenly turn a cartwheel and land on her feet.

On her toes
Standing on the tips of her toes.

Anything goes
Even the most respectable people can act crazy and frivolous sometimes.

Just think of those shocks you've got
Think about how surprised and upset you've been sometimes.

And those knocks you've got
And how many times you've failed.

And those blues you've got
And how many times you've been sad or depressed.

From those news you've got
From all the times the news has been bad for you.

And those pains you've got
From all the physical or emotional pain you've experienced.

(if any brains you've got)
(assuming you're not too stupid).

From those little radios
From listening to the radio, which often brings bad news and painful reminders of our failures.

So Mrs. R.
So the wealthy and fashionable Mrs. R.

With all her trimmin's
Dressed in her finest clothes and jewelry.

Can broadcast a bed from Simmon's
Can advertise and promote brand-name bedding and bedroom furniture.

Cause Franklin knows
Because the President of the United States, Franklin Roosevelt, is aware of the changing social norms and the need for people to embrace new ideas.

Anything goes
It's time for all of us to embrace new ideas and stop being so conservative all the time.