Anything Goes
Stan Getz & Gerry Mulligan Lyrics


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Times have changed
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
In olden days a glimpse of stocking
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

Overall Meaning

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 The song starts out with a reference to the landing of Plymouth Rock, where the Puritan values later deemed outdated were founded.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
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