As Star 102.1 DJ Glenn Anderson explained in a heartfelt post on the Cleveland station’s site, it wasn’t until he read the lyrics that he began to understand how someone could take offense.
“Now, I do realize that when the song was written in 1944, it was a different time, but now while reading it, it seems very manipulative and wrong,” Anderson wrote. “The world we live in is extra sensitive now, and people get easily offended, but in a world where #MeToo has finally given women the voice they deserve, the song has no place.”
Along with the post last month, Star 102.1, one of the local radio stations playing Christmas music on constant rotation during the holidays, ceased playing the song entirely. And much has been made of the decision nationwide, with stories appearing on CNN.com, USA Today and even some international outlets.
Despite so much attention, the radio station is staying mostly mum on its decision. In an email to Scene, station program director Dave Popovich provided the link to Anderson’s post (above), writing, “Star 102 is declining to comment beyond that.”
While the song continues to be played on heavy rotation on Christmas stations across the country, some are taking Cleveland’s lead, including San Francisco’s 96.5 KOIT. A station in Denver tried to pull the song, too, but after being met with intense listener feedback, “Baby” was reinstated on its playlists.
And there are plenty of folks (including many commenters on the 102.1 radio station’s Facebook page) who argue the song is supposed to be lighthearted.
As writer Lizzy Acker wrote in an essay for Mic titled, “Baby It’s Cold Outside isn’t rapey, it’s practically Shakespeare,” the song is all about intention. Acker points to Ella Fitzgerald’s version as the standard to which all others should be held.
“This is how it should be,” Acker writes. “Flirting between two consenting adults, neither of whom want to do anything but cuddle. You know why? Because it’s cold outside!”
Of course, you as human adult in America can choose to listen to the song, or not. Like any favorite Christmas song, there are plenty of bad versions out there, but creative ones as well. Either way you should read the full lyrics right here before making up your mind:
I really can’t stay – Baby it’s cold outside
I’ve got to go away – Baby it’s cold outside
This evening has been – Been hoping that you’d drop in
So very nice – I’ll hold your hands, they’re just like iceMy mother will start to worry – Beautiful, what’s your hurry?
Father will be pacing the floor – Listen to the fireplace roar
So really I’d better scurry – Beautiful, please don’t hurry
Maybe just a half a drink more – Put some records on while I pourThe neighbors might think – Baby, it’s bad out there
Say, what’s in this drink? – No cabs to be had out there
I wish I knew how – Your eyes are like starlight now
To break this spell – I’ll take your hat, your hair looks swellI ought to say no, no, no – Mind if I move in closer?
At least I’m gonna say that I tried – What’s the sense in hurting my pride?
I really can’t stay – Baby don’t hold out
Ah, but it’s cold outsideI’ve got to get home – Oh, baby, you’ll freeze out there
Say, lend me your coat – It’s up to your knees out there
You’ve really been grand – Thrill when you touch my hand
Why don’t you see – How can you do this thing to me?There’s bound to be talk tomorrow – Think of my life long sorrow
At least there will be plenty implied – If you caught pneumonia and died
I really can’t stay – Get over that hold out
Ah, but it’s cold outside
This article appears in Nov 28 – Dec 4, 2018.
1944: Say, what’s in this drink?
Answer: Alcohol
2018: Say, what’s in this heroin?
Answer: Fentanyl, you’re dead.
They’ve already changed the lyrics once to be PC….when I was a kid, it was:
“Well maybe just a cigarette more (never such a blizzard before)”
Can’t have any smoking of tobacco, doncha know…
Yeah, to be honest, I HAVE thought “what’s in this drink” COULD refer to roofies and date rape…but come on, now…this song always made me think of a guy and his girlfriend…or at least his date. Not somebody trying to seduce or rape somebody they’ve just met or hardly know. Never creeped me out…it always made me laugh, but maybe that’s just me, because I’ve never been a seducer or a producer.
Some of these revisionists piss me off. When does this shit end? Everything gets changed because of offended sensibilities. Lighten up already!
Anyway, here are the lyrics from the original 1949 verserion of the song:
(The man’s lines were in italics, but they aren’t gonna show up here)
Baby, It’s Cold Outside
Margaret Whiting & Johnny Mercer
Music and lyrics by Frank Loesser
I really can’t stay
But, baby, it’s cold outside
I got to go way
But, baby, it’s cold outside
This evening has been
Been hoping that you’d drop in
So very nice
I’ll hold your hands, they’re just like ice
My mother will start to worry
Beautiful, what’s your hurry
And father will be pacing the floor
Listen to the fireplace roar
So really, I’d better scurry
Beautiful, please don’t hurry
Well, maybe just a half a drink more
Put some records on while I pour
The neighbors might think
Baby, it’s bad out there
Say, what’s in this drink
No cabs to be had out there
I wish I knew how
Your eyes are like starlight now
To break the spell
I’ll take your hand, your hair looks swell
I ought to say no, no, no, sir
Mind if I move in closer
At least I’m gonna say that I tried
What’s the sense of hurting my pride
I really can’t stay
Baby, don’t hold out
Ahh, but it’s cold outside
I simply must go
But, baby, it’s cold outside
The answer is no
But, baby, it’s cold outside
This welcome has been
How lucky that you dropped in
So nice and warm
Look out the window at that storm
My sister will be suspicious
Gosh, your lips look delicious
My brother will be there at the door
Waves upon a tropical shore
My maiden aunt’s mind is vicious
Eww, your lips are delicious
Well, maybe just a cigarette more
Never such a blizzard before
I’ve got to get home
But, baby, you’ll freeze out there
Say, lend me a comb
It’s up to your knees out there
You’ve really been grand
I thrill when you touch my hand
But, don’t you see
How can you do this thing to me
There’s bound to be talk tomorrow
Making my life long sorrow
At least there will plenty implied
If you caught pneumonia and died
I really can’t stay
Get over that holdout
Ahh, but it’s cold outside
Now , seriously, folks…is all that REALLY so terrible?
Don’t think they had date rape drugs back in the 1940’s. This is too over sensitive and over thought! Just heard today : stop using, ” bring home the bacon”- insulting to pigs and , killed two birds with one stone- shows hatred of birds. ARE YOU KIDDING ME ! Stop this nonsense .
Couldn’t recognize Free Publicity during a big radio ratings period, if it bit you on the ear !
Yeah, even negative publicity is better than NO publicity…that’s the way these morons think. Who cares if you piss off your listeners? These clowns obviously don’t. Response on their Facebook page showed only SIX percent support for their decision! Other copycat station personnel that have forced the same P.C. decision on listeners in other cities have received even MORE negative feedback. Nearly all of them have reversed their stance…but not the stick-up-the-but Millennials in Cleveland. Thanks, asshats, for leading the way in making our city look stupid, backward, and regressive once again! Go piss up a rope!
liberals wil not be satisfied until all of western culture is either censored or destroyed
Newsflash, Barry…a lot of liberals also think these excesses of political correctness are ridiculous.
Singing this with a sexy smile and taunting eyes::
This evening has been so very nice… (she LIKES being there
Maybe just a half a drink more….. (because she liked it and could stay for more
This welcome has been so nice and warm.. (not something you would say if you are afraid.
Maybe just a cigarette more…(wanting to stay and making excuses to STAY
Say..lend me a comb ( So I can look prettier for you
You’ve really been GRAND… ( maybe they already cuddled and she REEEEAAALLLY liked it
and then
She agree’s and sings with him in the end… “Baby it’s cold outside”
The whole while she sure isn’t trying very hard to get away…