Anything Goes
Louise Gold Lyrics

Times have changed
The world has changed in many ways since the past.

And we've often rewound the clock
We have tried to go back to the past, but it never really works.

Since the Puritans got a shock
Since the Puritans first arrived in America and were surprised by the new world.

When they landed on Plymouth Rock.
When the Puritans first arrived in America and landed on Plymouth Rock.

If today
If in modern times

Any shock they should try to stem
If anyone tries to prevent a shock.

'Stead of landing on Plymouth Rock,
Instead of landing on Plymouth Rock as the Puritans did.

Plymouth Rock would land on them.
They would be the ones who would experience the shock.

In olden days, a glimpse of stocking
In the past, even a small view of a woman's leg was considered scandalous.

Was looked on as something shocking.
It was considered scandalous.

But now, God knows,
But now, things have changed drastically

Anything goes.
Anything is acceptable these days, no matter how scandalous it may be

Good authors too who once knew better words
Even respectable authors are now using more vulgar language to express themselves compared to the past.

Now only use four-letter words
Now, authors only use profane language to write their works.

Writing prose.
To create written works.

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

If low bars you like,
If you enjoy going to sleazy bars

If old hymns you like,
If you prefer traditional church songs

If bare limbs you like,
If you like to see people naked or scantily clad.

If Mae West you like,
If you like the actress Mae West

Or me undressed you like,
If you like to see me undressed.

Why, nobody will oppose.
No one will judge you or stand in your way.

When ev'ry night the set that's smart is in-
On every night, the high-society people are going out

Truding in nudist parties in
And even going to parties where people are naked.

Studios.
And even doing these things in public places, like recording studios.

When Missus Ned McLean (God bless her)
When a wealthy woman, Missus Ned McLean - who is being blessed by God here - does something shocking.

Can get Russian reds to "yes" her,
If she can convince Russian officials to do her bidding.

Then I suppose
Then, it is safe to assume

Anything goes.
Anything is possible, no matter how impossible or scandalous it appears.

When Rockefeller still can hoard en-
When the wealthiest man, Rockefeller, can still hold onto a significant amount of wealth

Ough money to let Max Gordon
Enough money to let Max Gordon continue his extravagant way of life.

Produce his shows,
To produce theater performances or shows of extravagance.

The world has gone mad today
The world has gone crazy nowadays

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

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

And day's night today,
The day is now considered the night

And that gent today
The man today

You gave a cent today
Who you gave some money today.

Once had several chateaux.
Once owned several extravagant castles.

When folks who still can ride in jitneys
When people who still ride in the cheap, old form of public transportation (jitneys)

Find out Vanderbilts and Whitneys
They discover that the cream of high society, the Vanderbilts and Whitneys

Lack baby clo'es,
Are even deprived of basic necessities like baby clothes.

If Sam Goldwyn can with great conviction
If movie producer Sam Goldwyn can make something happen convincingly

Instruct Anna Sten in diction,
He can even teach non-native English speakers like Anna Sten to speak with good diction.

Then Anna shows
Then, Anna Sten proves her new abilities.

When you hear that Lady Mendl standing up
When you discover that Lady Mendl, an aristocrat, is doing something outrageous.

Now turns a handspring landing up-
Lady Mendl is doing gymnastics and landing on her toes.

On her toes,
She's doing impressive physical feats

Just think of those shocks you've got
Just think of all the outrageous things you've seen

And those knocks you've got
And all the life blows you've taken.

And those blues you've got
And all the times life has gotten you down.

From that news you've got
From all the sensational headlines in the news.

And those pains you've got
From all the aches you now have

(If any brains you've got)
(If you have any intelligence)

From those little radios.
From those tiny little radios broadcasting all kinds of crazy stuff

So Missus R., with all her trimmin's,
So a woman named Missus R., with all her fancy clothing and accessories

Can broadcast a bed from Simmons
Is now able to promote and sell a branded bed from Simmons.

'Cause Franklin knows
Because Franklin Roosevelt, the president, knows

Anything goes.
Anything can happen these days.