Anything Goes
Merrill Helen Lyrics
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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.
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 ev'ry night the set that's smart is in-
Truding in nudist parties in
Studios.
Anything goes.
When Missus Ned McLean (God bless her)
Can get Russian reds to "yes" her,
Then I suppose
Anything goes.
When Rockefeller still can hoard en-
Ough 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 clo'es,
Anything goes.
If 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 turns 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 that 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" by Merrill Helen is a commentary on the changing societal norms and the loss of moral values in modern times. The opening lines of the song highlight how much times have changed since the Puritans landed on Plymouth Rock. The shock they experienced then is far different from the shock people experience today. The lyrics suggest that if the Puritans were to arrive today, they would be the ones experiencing shock, not the other way around. This line serves as a metaphor for how society has become increasingly liberal and uninhibited over the years.
The song's verses go on to highlight how things that were once seen as taboo are now widely accepted. The second verse specifically calls out the literary world, suggesting that authors have given in to the trend of using language that was once considered offensive. The third verse highlights how even the wealthy and powerful have become frivolous and lost touch with reality. The chorus of the song reinforces the idea that anything is possible in today's society, regardless of how immoral or inappropriate it may seem.
Line by Line Meaning
Times have changed
Things are different now
And we've often rewound the clock
We have frequently gone back in time
Since the Puritans got a shock
Since the Puritans were surprised
When they landed on Plymouth Rock.
When they arrived in Plymouth
If today
If in the present
Any shock they should try to stem
Any surprise they may attempt to prevent
'Stead of landing on Plymouth Rock,
Instead of arriving in Plymouth
Plymouth Rock would land on them.
They would be met with resistance
In olden days, a glimpse of stocking
In the past, showing a bit of leg
Was looked on as something shocking.
Was considered scandalous
But now, God knows,
But nowadays
Anything goes.
Anything is acceptable
Good authors too who once knew better words
Writers who used to have a better vocabulary
Now only use four-letter words
Now only use profanity
Writing prose.
Writing literature
Anything goes.
Anything is acceptable
If driving fast cars you like,
If you enjoy driving fast cars
If low bars you like,
If you enjoy seedy establishments
If old hymns you like,
If you enjoy old religious songs
If bare limbs you like,
If you enjoy exposed body parts
If Mae West you like,
If you enjoy the actress Mae West
Or me undressed you like,
Or if you enjoy seeing me naked
Why, nobody will oppose.
No one will object
When ev'ry night the set that's smart is in-
When every night the fashionable crowd is found
Truding in nudist parties in
Crashing nude parties
Studios.
Studios
Anything goes.
Anything is acceptable
When Missus Ned McLean (God bless her)
When Mrs. Ned McLean (God bless her)
Can get Russian reds to "yes" her,
Can get Russians to agree with her
Then I suppose
Then I imagine
Anything goes.
Anything is acceptable
When Rockefeller still can hoard en-
When Rockefeller can still accumulate
Ough money to let Max Gordon
Enough money to subsidize Max Gordon
Produce his shows,
To fund his productions
Anything goes.
Anything is acceptable
The world has gone mad today
The world is crazy nowadays
And good's bad today,
Good is bad nowadays
And black's white today,
What was once black is now white
And day's night today,
Day has turned into night
And that gent today
And that gentleman today
You gave a cent today
You gave money today
Once had several chateaux.
Once owned multiple castles
When folks who still can ride in jitneys
When people who can still ride in jitneys
Find out Vanderbilts and Whitneys
Discover that the Vanderbilts and Whitneys
Lack baby clo'es,
Don't have baby clothes
Anything goes.
Anything is acceptable
If Sam Goldwyn can with great conviction
If Sam Goldwyn can confidently
Instruct Anna Sten in diction,
Teach Anna Sten to speak
Then Anna shows
Then Anna performs
Anything goes.
Anything is acceptable
When you hear that Lady Mendl standing up
When you hear that Lady Mendl standing
Now turns a handspring landing up-
Now does a handspring landing
On her toes,
Standing on her toes
Anything goes.
Anything is acceptable
Just think of those shocks you've got
Think of the surprises you've received
And those knocks you've got
And the blows you've received
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 felt
(If any brains you've got)
(If you have any intelligence)
From those little radios.
From those small radios
So Missus R., with all her trimmin's,
So Mrs. R. with all her adornments
Can broadcast a bed from Simmons
Can advertise a bed from Simmons
'Cause Franklin knows
Because Franklin Roosevelt knows
Anything goes.
Anything is acceptable
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cole Porter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind