Anything Goes: Overture

Times have changed

And we've often rewound the clock

Since the Puritans got the shock

When they landed on Plymouth Rock

If today any shock they should try to stem

Instead 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 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 that's smart

is intruding in nudist parties in studios

Anything goes.

When Mrs. Ned McLean--God bless her--

Can get Russian reds to "yes" her,

Then I suppose,

Anything goes.

When Rockefeller 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 day's night today

And that gent today

You gave a cent today

Once had several chateaux

When folks still can ride in jitneys

Find out Vanderbilts and Whitneys lack baby clothes,

Anything goes.

When 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 does a handspring landing upon her toes

Anything goes

Just think of those shocks you got

And those knocks you got

And those blues you got

From those news you got

And those pains you got

If any brains you got

From those little radios.

So Mrs. R. with all her trimmings,

Can broadcast a bed from Simmons,

'Cause Franklin knows,

Anything goes