Anything Goes
Stan Getz & Gerry Mulligan Lyrics
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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 Stan Getz & Gerry Mulligan's song "Anything Goes" paints a picture of changing times where the normative values have been overthrown, and everything previously considered taboo is now acceptable. The song starts out with a reference to the landing of Plymouth Rock, where the Puritan values later deemed outdated were founded. The lyrics talk about a new shock that might come that would make Plymouth Rock land on them instead of the Puritans landing on the rock. The following lyrics joke about how in the past, a hint of a stocking was considered outrageous, but now we live in a world where anything goes.
The song goes on to explain how even the most respected authors have stopped using better words and have resorted to using four-letter words in their writings. It talks about how people are now accepting of anything - fast cars, low bars, modern music, old hymns, nudity, and various other things they may have previously had an adverse reaction to. The song points out how the world has gone insane, with good becoming bad and black becoming white. It rejoices in the fact that even the known and respected have shed their conventional beliefs and are accepting of anything that comes their way.
Line by Line Meaning
Times have changed
The present is different from the past
And we've ofter rewound the clock
We often look back at history
Since the puritans got a shock
Since the arrival of the puritans in America
When they landed on Plymouth rock
When they arrived in America on the Mayflower and landed on Plymouth rock
If today any shock they might try to stem
If something shocking occurred today
'Stead of landing of Plymouth rock
Instead of the shock being caused by the arrival of new settlers
Plymouth rock would land on them
They would be the ones to experience a shock
In olden days a glimpse of stocking
In the past, even a glimpse of a woman's stocking was considered shocking
Was looked on as something shocking
It was considered scandalous
But now God knows
However, now anything goes
Good authors to
Even distinguished authors
Who once knew better words
Who used to have a wider vocabulary
Now only use four letter words
Now resort to using only rudimentary language
Writing prose
In their writing
Anything goes
Anything can be deemed acceptable
If driving fast cars you like
If you like driving fast cars
If low bars you like
If you enjoy visiting seedy establishments
If old hymns you like
If you enjoy traditional religious music
If bare limbs you like
If you like seeing scantily clad bodies
If Mae West you like
If you like the actress Mae West and her bold, suggestive persona
Or me undressed you like
Or if you like to see me in revealing clothing
Why nobody will oppose
No one will criticize you for your preferences
When every night
At a time when every night
The set thats smart
The fashionable crowd
Is intruding on nudist parties
Goes to nudist gatherings
In studios
Or even in television and film studios
Anything goes
Anything can be considered acceptable behavior
When Mrs. Ned McClean God bless her
When even wealthy socialite Mrs. Ned McClean
Can get Russian reds to yes her
Can convince even members of the Communist party to agree with her
Than I suppose
Then one can assume
Anything goes
Anything is possible
When Rockafeller still can hoard
Even when a wealthy man like John D. Rockefeller still amasses wealth
Enough money to let Max Gordon
Enough resources to allow producer Max Gordon
Produce his shows
To create extravagant theatrical productions
Anything goes
Anything can be achieved with enough money
The world has gone mad today
The modern world is chaotic
And good's bad today
Even things that were once considered good are now considered bad
And black's white today
Traditional certainties are now challenged and reversed
And days night today
Even the time of day can seem to be the opposite of what it actually is
And that gent today
And that man today
You gave a cent today
To whom you had given your money today
Once owned several chateaux
Could have owned several large, luxurious homes
When folks
When people
Who still can ride in Jitney's
Who can still afford to ride in cheap, small cars
Find out Vanderbilts and Whitney's
Learn that even the wealthy and privileged Vanderbilts and Whitneys
Lack baby clo'es
Cannot afford to buy clothes for their babies
Anything goes
Anything is possible
When Sam Goldwyn
When film producer Sam Goldwyn
Can with great conviction
Can convincingly
Instruct Anna Sten in diction
Teach Soviet actress Anna Sten to speak English properly
Than Anna shows
Then Anna can show
Anything goes
Anything can happen
When you hear that
When you learn that
Lady Mendl standing up
Lady Mendl, a well-known socialite, standing up
Now turns a handspring landing up
Can now perform gymnastic moves with ease
On her toes
Only using the tips of her feet
Anything goes
Anything is possible
Just think of those shocks you've got
Think of all the surprises and shocks you have encountered
And those knocks you've got
And all the obstacles you have faced
And those blues you've got
And all the sadness you have experienced
From those news you've got
From hearing about current events
And those pains you've got
And all the physical and emotional pain you have endured
(if any brains you've got)
(if you have any intelligence)
From those little radios
From listening to the news on the radio
So Mrs. R.
Even someone like Mrs. R.
With all her trimmin's
With all her wealth and possessions
Can broadcast a bed from Simmon's
Can advertise a bed made by Simmons
Cause Franklin knows
Because President Franklin D. Roosevelt knows
Anything goes
Anything is possible
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cole Porter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind