Anything Goes
Stιphane Grappelli Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And we've ofter rewound the clock
Since the puritans got a shock
When they landed on Plymouth rock
If today any shock they might try to stem
'Stead of landing of Plymouth rock
Plymouth rock would land on them
Was looked on as something shocking
But now God knows
Anything goes
Good authors to
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 thats smart
Is intruding on nudist parties
In studios
Anything goes
When Mrs. Ned McClean God bless her
Can get Russian reds to yes her
Than I suppose
Anything goes
When Rockafeller 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 days night today
And that gent today
You gave a cent today
Once owned several chateaux
When folks
Who still can ride in Jitney's
Find out Vanderbilts and Whitney's
Lack baby clo'es
Anything goes
When Sam Goldwyn
Can with great conviction
Instruct Anna Sten in diction
Than 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 those news you've got
And those pains you've got
(if any brains you've got)
From those little radios
So Mrs. R.
With all her trimmin's
Can broadcast a bed from Simmon's
Cause Franklin knows
Anything goes
The lyrics to Stιphane Grappelli's "Anything Goes" explore how times have changed and what was once considered shocking is now accepted. The opening lines reference the Puritans, who were shocked by anything outside of their way of life when they landed on Plymouth rock. The lyrics suggest that now, if anyone were to try to shock society, it would be unsuccessful because society is already desensitized to it. There is an overall tone of freedom and letting go of inhibitions throughout the song.
The lyrics of the song depict how societal norms have changed over time. The song emphasizes that anything goes in modern society, and there are no longer boundaries regarding decency or morality. The song takes little digs at various societal institutions, such as the rise of fast cars and low bars, the decline of good authors, and the merging of high and low culture. The lyrics make various cultural references, including to Mae West, Samuel Goldwyn, and the Vanderbilts.
Line by Line Meaning
Times have changed
The current era is different from the past.
And we've ofter rewound the clock
We have looked back at the past frequently.
Since the puritans got a shock
Since the Puritans were surprised and dismayed.
When they landed on Plymouth rock
When they arrived at Plymouth Rock.
If today any shock they might try to stem
If the Puritans tried to stop shocking things today.
'Stead of landing of Plymouth rock
Instead of landing at Plymouth Rock.
Plymouth rock would land on them
They would be surprised by the current era.
In olden days a glimpse of stocking
In the past, seeing a bit of a woman's leg was scandalous.
Was looked on as something shocking
People found it shocking.
But now God knows
Now, who knows what's shocking.
Anything goes
Anything is acceptable.
Good authors to
Even respected writers.
Who once knew better words
Who used to use proper vocabulary.
Now only use four letter words
Now only use curse words.
Writing prose
Creating written work.
Anything goes
Anything is acceptable.
If driving fast cars you like
If you enjoy speeding in cars.
If low bars you like
If you prefer seedy bars.
If old hymns you like
If you enjoy old religious songs.
If bare limbs you like
If you like seeing naked flesh.
If Mae West you like
If you like Mae West's racy humor.
Or me undressed you like
If you enjoy seeing me naked.
Why nobody will oppose
Nobody will object.
When every night
At night.
The set thats smart
The fashionable crowd.
Is intruding on nudist parties
Is attending nude gatherings.
In studios
In film studios.
Anything goes
Anything is acceptable.
When Mrs. Ned McClean God bless her
When Mrs. Ned McClean, bless her heart.
Can get Russian reds to yes her
Can convince Russians to agree with her.
Than I suppose
Then I guess anything is possible.
Anything goes
Anything is acceptable.
When Rockafeller still can hoard
When Rockefeller still monopolizes wealth.
Enough money to let Max Gordon
Money to finance Max Gordon's shows.
Produce his shows
Fund his theatrical productions.
Anything goes
Anything is acceptable.
The world has gone mad today
The world is crazy right now.
And good's bad today
Even good things are bad.
And black's white today
Things are opposite of what they should be.
And days night today
Things are upside down.
And that gent today
That man today.
You gave a cent today
You gave him money today.
Once owned several chateaux
Once owned many mansions.
When folks
When people.
Who still can ride in Jitney's
Who still ride in cheap taxis.
Find out Vanderbilts and Whitney's
Discover that the wealthy and elite have financial troubles.
Lack baby clo'es
Can't even afford baby clothes.
Anything goes
Anything is acceptable.
When Sam Goldwyn
When Sam Goldwyn, movie producer.
Can with great conviction
Can confidently.
Instruct Anna Sten in diction
Teach Anna Sten correct speech.
Than Anna shows
Then Anna demonstrates.
Anything goes
Anything is acceptable.
When you hear that
When you hear about.
Lady Mendl standing up
Lady Mendl standing up.
Now turns a handspring landing up
Is performing acrobatic flips.
On her toes
Balancing on her toes.
Anything goes
Anything is acceptable.
Just think of those shocks you've got
Think about those times you were surprised.
And those knocks you've got
And those difficult moments you faced.
And those blues you've got
And those times you felt sad and blue.
From those news you've got
From the news you heard.
And those pains you've got
And physical pain you felt.
(if any brains you've got)
(assuming you have any intelligence)
From those little radios
From those small radio sets.
So Mrs. R.
So Mrs. Roosevelt.
With all her trimmin's
With all her fancy accessories.
Can broadcast a bed from Simmon's
Can advertise a bed made by Simmons.
Cause Franklin knows
Because President Franklin Roosevelt knows that anything is acceptable.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cole Porter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind