Carter was born Lillie Mae Jones on 16th May 1929 in Flint, Michigan and grew up in Detroit, where her father led a church choir. She studied piano at the Detroit Conservatory. She won a talent contest and became a regular on the local club circuit, singing and playing piano. When she was sixteen, she sang with Charlie Parker. She later performed with Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis and toured with Lionel Hampton (from whom she received the nickname "Betty Bebop"), when she perfected her scat singing of bebop.
Her career was eclipsed somewhat during the 1960s and 1970s, though a series of duets with Ray Charles in 1961, including the R&B-chart-topping "Baby, It's Cold Outside", brought her a measure of popular recognition. She recorded for various labels during this period, including Peacock, ABC-Paramount, and Atco, but was rarely satisfied with the resulting product. An episode in which a record company A&R man tried to abscond with a set of her master recordings led her to establish her own record label, Bet-Car, in 1970. Some of her most outstanding recordings were first issued on Bet-Car, including the double album The Audience with Betty Carter (1980). She was well-received at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1977 and 1978. In 1987 Carter signed with Verve Records. She won a Grammy in 1988 for her album Look What I Got! and sang in a guest appearance on The Cosby Show in that year.
She died on 26th September 1998.
Baby It's Cold Outside
Betty Carter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Betty, it's cold outside
(I've got to go away)
Betty, it's cold out there
(This evening has been)
Been hoping that you'd drop in
(So very nice)
(My mother will start to worry)
Beautiful, what's you're hurry
(And father will be pacing the floor)
Listen to that fireplace roar
(So really I'd better scurry)
Beautiful, please don't hurry
(Well, maybe just a half a drink more)
Why don't you put some records on while I pour
(And the neighbors might think)
Betty, it's bad out there
(Say, what's in this drink?)
No cab's to be had out there
(I wish I knew how)
Your eyes are like starlight now
(To break the spell)
I'll take your hat, 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 hurtin' my pride?
(I really can't stay)
Baby, don't hold out
Ah, but it's cold outside
(I simply must go)
Betty, it's cold outside
(The answer is no)
I say, it's cold out there
(The welcome has been)
How lucky that you dropped in
(So nice and warm)
Look out that window, man that's hard
(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)
Gosh, your lips are delicious
(Well, maybe just a cigarette more)
Oh, never such a blizzard before
(I've got to go home)
Betty, you'd freeze out there
(Say, lend me your coat)
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)
Think of my lifelong sorrow
(At least there will be plenty implied)
If you caught pneumonia and died
(I really can't stay)
Get over that old lie
Ah, but it's cold outside
The song "Baby It's Cold Outside" by Betty Carter is a duet between a man and a woman where the woman, Betty, voices out her desire to leave, but the man's persistence convinces her to stay. The song, however, has been criticized for lyrics that encourage coercion and hints at the woman being drugged, leading to controversy over its meaning.
The woman expresses her concern of her family worrying, but the man brushes them off with the cozy atmosphere of the fireplace. The man tries to make her stay by offering to put some records on while he pours more drinks, hinting that he spiked her earlier drink. He ignores her request to leave, questioning if she is rushing and making excuses for her to stay. The woman becomes more concerned as the man tries to persuade her by flattering her and offering his coat if she stays a little while longer. She is also wary of the neighborhood's perception of them, and the man tries to convince her that it does not matter, emphasizing the cold outside.
Line by Line Meaning
(I really can't stay)
Betty expresses her reluctance to stay
Betty, it's cold outside
Betty notes that the weather is cold
(I've got to go away)
Betty feels she has to leave
Betty, it's cold out there
Betty again mentions the cold weather
(This evening has been)
Betty reflects on the evening
Been hoping that you'd drop in
Betty wanted the other person to visit
(So very nice)
Betty notes their time together was pleasant
I'll hold your hand, they're just like ice
Betty observes that the other person's hand is cold
(My mother will start to worry)
Betty foresees her mother getting worried
Beautiful, what's you're hurry
Betty inquires why the other person is rushing
(And father will be pacing the floor)
Betty anticipates her father getting anxious
Listen to that fireplace roar
Betty suggests a cozy atmosphere inside
(So really I'd better scurry)
Betty feels she should leave soon
Beautiful, please don't hurry
Betty asks the other person to take their time
(Well, maybe just a half a drink more)
Betty is willing to have a little more to drink
Why don't you put some records on while I pour
Betty suggests they listen to music while having another drink
(And the neighbors might think)
Betty acknowledges the potential for gossip
Betty, it's bad out there
Betty reiterates the harsh weather conditions
(Say, what's in this drink?)
Betty expresses some suspicion about her drink
No cab's to be had out there
Betty points out that there are no taxis available
(I wish I knew how)
Betty is unsure how to handle the situation
Your eyes are like starlight now
Betty compliments the other person's eyes
(To break the spell)
Betty recognizes the romantic atmosphere between them
I'll take your hat, your hair looks swell
Betty compliments the other person's hair and offers to take their hat
(I ought to say no, no, no, sir)
Betty feels she should say no
Mind if I move in closer?
Betty asks if she can sit closer to the other person
(At least I'm gonna say that I tried)
Betty acknowledges that she is making an effort
What's the sense of hurtin' my pride?
Betty doesn't want to be rejected
(I really can't stay)
Betty repeats her desire to leave
Baby, don't hold out
Betty encourages the other person not to resist
Ah, but it's cold outside
Betty acknowledges the cold weather again
(I simply must go)
Betty insists on leaving
Betty, it's cold outside
Betty references the weather once more
(The answer is no)
Betty declines an invitation
I say, it's cold out there
Betty again notes the cold weather
(The welcome has been)
Betty acknowledges that they were welcomed
How lucky that you dropped in
Betty expresses gratitude for the other person visiting
(So nice and warm)
Betty references the warm atmosphere inside
Look out that window, man that's hard
Betty points out how harsh the weather is
(My sister will be suspicious)
Betty thinks her sister will have doubts
Gosh, your lips look delicious
Betty compliments the other person's lips
(My brother will be there at the door)
Betty anticipates her brother's arrival
Waves upon a tropical shore
Betty imagines a more tropical location
(My maiden aunt's mind is vicious)
Betty believes her aunt may be critical
Gosh, your lips are delicious
Betty compliments the other person's lips again
(Well, maybe just a cigarette more)
Betty agrees to another cigarette
Oh, never such a blizzard before
Betty references the intense snowstorm
(I've got to go home)
Betty feels she must return home
Betty, you'd freeze out there
Betty suggests the other person would be cold outside
(Say, lend me your coat)
Betty asks to borrow the other person's coat
It's up to your knees out there
Betty notes the deep snow outside
(You've really been grand)
Betty compliments the other person
I thrill when you touch my hand
Betty admits to being excited by physical contact
(But don't you see)
Betty feels conflicted
How can you do this thing to me?
Betty is confused about their relationship
(There's bound to be talk tomorrow)
Betty is worried about gossip
Think of my lifelong sorrow
Betty asks the other person to think of her feelings
(At least there will be plenty implied)
Betty references the potential for rumors
If you caught pneumonia and died
Betty reflects on how dangerous the weather outside is
(I really can't stay)
Betty reaffirms her desire to leave
Get over that old lie
Betty asks the other person to forget a lie
Ah, but it's cold outside
Betty acknowledges the cold weather once more
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Frank Loesser
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@divinaito3282
A Different World, Dwayne and Whitley brought me here. 😩😩😩😍😍😍😍😍😍😩😩😩
@dineillearrindell7239
Me to, just watched dat episode..20/1/10❤❤❤❤
@premium2k219
Wow.. same episode bought me here 4/13/19😊
@canaleselia
Winner!
@canaleselia
5/01/2019
@darlene971
12/12/2019
@KillerKlown318
I've been hearing so many versions of this song on the radio but they'll never compare to Ray and Betty
@nadinemcmillon8659
I met Betty Carter in a restaurant in Manhattan many years ago (she was elderly at the time), and she asked me if I knew who she was. Of course I did! Rest in peace, Ms. Carter.❤
@marilynjackson5983
This is my first hearing of Betty Carter. Her voice is like silk and Mr. Charles voice is like satin. The chemistry between her and Mr. Charles if just magically woven into fine fabric!
@jadac9678
Anyone else get teary eyed from watching Whitley and Dwayne dance to this? I love those two.