"Anything Goes" was written and composed by Cole Porter in 1934 and was famously recorded by the Coon-Sanders Nighthawks Orchestra that year. This song is famous for being performed in CHINESE at the beginning of "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom". Essentially, the song is about what was seen as the degradation and change that Porter saw in modern, 1930s society and that since *situation* could happen, then surely 'anything goes' when it came to societal and moral standards.
That said, this is one of my favourite songs and I finally "mastered" it. I hope you'll consider this a decent recording.
The Lyrics
Note: As this song has SEVERAL references to persons who no longer exist, I'll include footnotes to help you understand. Also, yes I apologise for not including the introduction. I haven't bothered to learn it yet.
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 hyms you like,
If bare limbs you ilke,
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 hoarde enough money,
To let Max Gordon* produce his shows,
Anything goes!
When folks who still can ride in jitneys,
Find out that the 'Bilts and Whitneys** lack baby clothes!
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 cheataux!
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,
In any brains you got,
From those little radios!**
When Mrs. R* with all her trimmin's,
Can broadcast a bed from Simmons*
Then Franklin* knows,
Anything goes!
*Mae West was a prominent 1930s and 1940s filmstar, famous for her generous breasts.
**Mrs. Ned McLean was the wife of Edward McLean, owner of the Washington Post newspaper. The McLeans were also once owners of the infamous 'Hope Diamond'.
*John D. Rockefeller. The richest man in the world.
*Max Gordon. A New York-based film and theatre-producer.
**Vanderbilt and Whitney families. Prominent and wealthy American families during the 1930s.
*Sam Goldwyn. Film-producer (of 'Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer' MGM fame).
*Anna Sten was a silent film star who later made it big during the Golden Age of Hollywood (ca. 1930s-1960s).
*'Lady Mendl' was the stage name of actress Elsie de Wolfe. Born in 1865, she was 69 when Porter wrote this song (she finally died at the age of 85).
**Whoever said that the TV was the original idiot-box apparently needs to do some research!
*Mrs. R and Franklin are obviously president Franklin Delano Roosevelt and his wife, Eleanor.
*'Simmons' is the Simmons Bedding Company. Founded in 1870, it's still in business today.
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Allen Dale-Anything Goes!by allendale19628,228 views
very nice!
cepomwa 8 months ago