(tw: mentions sexual assault and rape)
Written by Frank Loesser in 1944, Baby, It’s Cold Outside first became popular after being featured in the 1949 film Neptune’s Daughter, winning an Oscar for Best Original Song.
Baby, It’s Cold Outside, on one hand, is a romance between a man and a woman, with lyrics misinterpreted when taken out of their historical context. On the other hand, it can also appear to be a shoddy tune with undertones of rape and non consensual relations.
Recently, the song has been brought back into the spotlight by the #MeToo movement for its controversial lyrics regarding consent. While many have bashed Baby, It’s Cold Outside for its romanticization of men pressuring women, others have jumped to its defense because of the time period it was written in.
Is Not Problematic
One argument in defense of the lyrics points out that during the 1940s, a woman who wanted to maintain her reputation was expected to consistently protest a man’s advances, regardless if she welcomed them or not. This kept her reputation safe, and prevented unwanted rumors from being spread about her chastity. This claim could also suggest that the song’s figurative woman would have liked to have stayed, but couldn’t directly say so.
Others who side with the song also highlight the fact that certain phrases or questions had different meanings when the song was released back in 1944. Deemed by most listeners to be one of the most problematic lyrics of the song, “What’s in this drink,” when interpreted today, it has the implication that the man put an unknown substance in the woman’s glass without her knowledge.
However, back then, the line referred to both the alcoholic content, and a common joke made in the ‘30s and ‘40s. When someone needed to make an excuse for something embarrassing they had done, especially while sober, they simply would say, “what’s in this drink “ to imply that they were already inebriated.
It would be no surprise for a woman in the 1940s to feel the need to hide her sexual desire for a man, which was a taboo subject at the time. The consequences for a woman engaging in scandalous or risqué behavior were steep compared to that of a man. The reputations of not only herself, but her family as well, would be put on the line. The man in this same situation would never be held to the same degree of responsibility as the woman.
Is Problematic
While there was certainly historical context for this song, there is also context from this time period and reasons as to why these lyrics are less than comfortable to listen to. With the way consent has evolved over the years, communication has become an integral part of any sexual interaction. However, the lyrics presented in this song go directly against what we have come to define as an acceptable form of consent today.
At one point, the woman in this song explicitly says “the answer is no,” however, the man ignores this and continues to attempt to persuade her into staying. While there is the argument that she only said this to maintain her reputation, there is no doubt that to our twenty-first century perspective, the line sounds like a plea to leave. Disturbing lyrics similar to that continue throughout the song, such as when the woman questioned “what’s in this drink?” The idea of casually integrating a line into a song that heavily suggests the use of date rape drugs is appalling to many, and regardless of the different meaning of this in the 1940s, anyone who hears that line today will most likely think that the woman is in some sort of distress.
Baby, It’s Cold Outside can be interpreted in many different ways due to the nature of the subject, the time period, and how society’s perspective on feminism and femininity as a whole has significantly changed. It is interesting to see both sides of the argument because of how famous the song is today. Do we need to rethink how we listen to Christmas tunes, or shall we continue on, accepting that the past is the past?
It’s a great song then and now.