He and Jerry Lewis formed the immensely popular comedy duo Martin and Lewis, with Martin serving as the straight man to Lewis' slapstick hijinks. Martin went on to become a star of concert stages, nightclubs, audio recordings, motion pictures, and television, and was also a member of the "Rat Pack". Martin was the host of the television variety programs The Dean Martin Show and The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts. His relaxed, warbling, crooning voice earned him dozens of hit singles, including his signature songs "Memories Are Made of This", "That's Amore", "Everybody Loves Somebody", "You're Nobody Till Somebody Loves You", "Sway", "Volare", and "Ain't That a Kick in the Head?"
Martin was born on June 7, 1917, in Steubenville, Ohio, to an Italian father, Gaetano Alfonso Crocetti (1894–1967), and an Italian-American mother, Angela Crocetti (née Barra; 1899–1966). They were married in 1914. His father, who was a barber, was originally from Montesilvano, in Abruzzo, and his maternal grandparents' origins are believed to be also from Abruzzo, although they are not clearly known. Martin had an older brother named William Alfonso Crocetti (1916–1968). Martin's first language was Abruzzese, a dialect of Neapolitan, and he did not speak English until he started school at the age of five. He attended Grant Elementary School in Steubenville, where he was bullied for his broken English. He later took up the drums as a hobby as a teenager. Martin then dropped out of Steubenville High School in the 10th grade because he thought he was smarter than his teachers. He bootlegged liquor, served as a speakeasy croupier, was a blackjack dealer, worked in a steel mill, and boxed as a welterweight.
As Martin's solo career grew, he and Frank Sinatra became friends. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Martin and Sinatra, along with friends Joey Bishop, Peter Lawford, and Sammy Davis, Jr. formed the Rat Pack, so-called after an earlier group of social friends, the Holmby Hills Rat Pack centered on Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, of which Sinatra had been a member (The Martin-Sinatra-Davis-Lawford-Bishop group referred to themselves as "The Summit" or "The Clan" and never as "The Rat Pack", although this has remained their identity in popular imagination). The men made films together, formed part of the Hollywood social scene, and were politically influential (through Lawford's marriage to Patricia Kennedy, sister of President John F. Kennedy).
The Rat Pack was legendary for its Las Vegas Strip performances. For example, the marquee at the Sands Hotel might read DEAN MARTIN—MAYBE FRANK—MAYBE SAMMY. Their appearances were valuable because the city would flood with wealthy gamblers. Their act (always in tuxedo) consisted of each singing individual numbers, duets and trios, along with seemingly improvised slapstick and chatter. In the socially charged 1960s, their jokes revolved around adult themes, such as Sinatra's womanizing and Martin's drinking, as well as Davis's race and religion. Sinatra and Martin supported the civil rights movement and refused to perform in clubs that would not allow African-American or Jewish performers. Posthumously, the Rat Pack has experienced a popular revival, inspiring the George Clooney/Brad Pitt "Ocean's Trilogy."
Martin returned to films briefly with appearances in the star-laden, critically panned but commercially successful The Cannonball Run and its sequel Cannonball Run II. He also had a minor hit single with "Since I Met You Baby" and made his first music video, which appeared on MTV. The video was created by Martin's youngest son, Ricci. On March 21, 1987, Martin's son, actor Dean Paul Martin (formerly Dino of the 1960s "teeny-bopper" rock group Dino, Desi & Billy), died when his F-4 Phantom II jet fighter crashed while flying with the California Air National Guard. Martin's grief over his son's death left him depressed and demoralized. Later, a tour with Davis and Sinatra in 1988, undertaken in part to help Martin recover, sputtered.
Martin, who responded best to a club audience, felt lost in the huge stadiums they were performing in at Sinatra's insistence, and he was not interested in drinking until dawn after performances. His final Vegas shows were at Bally's Hotel in 1990. There he had his final reunion with Lewis on his 72nd birthday. Martin's last two TV appearances involved tributes to his former Rat Pack members. On December 8, 1989, he joined stars in Sammy Davis Jr's 60th anniversary celebration, which aired a few weeks before Davis died from throat cancer. In December 1990, he congratulated Sinatra on his 75th birthday special.
Martin, a heavy smoker, was diagnosed with lung cancer at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in September 1993, and was told that he would require surgery to prolong his life, but he rejected it. He retired from public life in early 1995 and died of acute respiratory failure resulting from emphysema at his Beverly Hills home on Christmas Day, 1995 at the age of 78. The lights of the Las Vegas Strip were dimmed in his honor. Martin's body was interred at the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles. The crypt features the epitaph "Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime", the title of his signature song.
In 1996, Ohio Route 7 through Steubenville was rededicated as Dean Martin Boulevard. Road signs bearing an Al Hirschfeld caricature of Martin's likeness designate the stretch with a historical marker bearing a small picture and brief biography in the Gazebo Park at Route 7 and North Fourth Street. An annual Dean Martin Festival celebration is held in Steubenville. Impersonators, friends and family, and entertainers, many of Italian ancestry, appear. In 2005, Clark County, Nevada, renamed a portion of Industrial Road as Dean Martin Drive. A similarly named street was dedicated in 2008 in Rancho Mirage, California. Martin's family was presented a gold record in 2004 for Dino: The Essential Dean Martin, his fastest-selling album, which also hit the iTunes Top 10, and in 2006 it was certified "Platinum".
For the week ending December 23, 2006, the Dean Martin and Martina McBride duet of "Baby, It's Cold Outside" reached No. 7 on the R&R AC chart. It also went to No. 36 on the R&R Country chart – the last time Martin had a song this high in the charts was in 1965, with the song "I Will," which reached No. 10 on the Pop chart. An album of duets, Forever Cool, was released by Capitol/EMI in 2007. It features Martin's voice with Kevin Spacey, Shelby Lynne, Joss Stone, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Robbie Williams, McBride and others. His footprints were immortalized at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in 1964. Martin has three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame: one at 6519 Hollywood Boulevard for movies; the second at 1617 Vine for recordings; and a third at 6651 Hollywood Boulevard for television. In February 2009, Martin was honored with a posthumous Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Four of his surviving children, Gail, Deana, Ricci and Gina accepted it on his behalf. In 2010, Martin received a posthumous star on the Italian Walk of Fame in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Martin was married three times. His first wife was Elizabeth Anne "Betty" McDonald, (July 14, 1922 – July 11, 1989) of Ridley Park, Pennsylvania. Martin and McDonald married in 1941 and had four children: Craig Martin (born 1942), Claudia Martin (March 16, 1944 – February 16, 2001), Gail Martin (born 1945); and Deana Martin (born 1948). Martin and McDonald divorced in 1949 and Dean gained custody of their children. Betty lived out her life in relative obscurity in San Francisco, California.
Martin's second wife was Dorothy Jean "Jeanne" Biegger (March 27, 1927 – August 24, 2016), a former Orange Bowl queen from Coral Gables, Florida. Their marriage lasted 24 years (1949–1973) and produced three children: Dean Paul Martin (November 17, 1951 – March 21, 1987), Ricci Martin (September 20, 1953 – August 3, 2016)[15] and Gina Martin (born 1956).
Martin's third marriage, to Catherine Hawn, lasted three years before Martin initiated divorce proceedings. They had no biological children of their own but Martin adopted Hawn's daughter, Sasha.
Martin's uncle was Leonard Barr, who appeared in several of his shows. In the 1960s and early 1970s, he lived at 363 Copa De Oro Road in Bel Air, Los Angeles, before selling it to Tom Jones for $500,000 in June 1976.
Martin's son-in-law was the Beach Boys' Carl Wilson, who married Martin's daughter Gina. Figure skater Dorothy Hamill and actress Olivia Hussey were his daughters-in-law during their marriages to Martin's son, Dean Paul Martin.
Baby It's Cold Outside
Dean Martin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've got to go away (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?)
My father will be pacing the floor (listen to the fireplace roar)
So really I'd better scurry (beautiful please don't hurry)
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 this 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 in hurtin' my pride?)
I really can't stay (oh, baby, don't hold out)
But (oh), baby, it's cold outside
I simply must go (but, baby, it's cold outside)
The answer is no (but, baby, it's cold outside)
Your welcome has been (how lucky that you dropped in)
So nice and warm (look out the window at this dawn)
My sister will be suspicious (gosh, your lips look delicious)
My brother will be there at the door (waves upon the tropical shore)
My maiden aunt's mind is vicious (gosh, your lips are delicious)
But maybe just a cigarette more (never such a blizzard before)
I've gotta get home (but, baby, you'd freeze out there)
Say, lend me a 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 got pneumonia and died)
I really can't stay (get over that old doubt)
Baby, it's cold
Baby, it's cold outside
The lyrics of "Baby It's Cold Outside" by Dean Martin epitomize the concept of the battle of the sexes. The song itself is a playful duet between a man and a woman who seem to be in a quite cozy setting. However, as the conversation between the two progresses, it is evident that the woman wants to leave, but the man persuades her otherwise using several tactics.
The first two lines of the song, "I really can't stay (but, baby, it's cold outside) and "I've got to go away (but, baby, it's cold outside)," establish the main theme of the song, which is coercion. The woman is feeling pressured, but the man attempts to convince her that staying is the better option. Additionally, there are a couple of lines that could be interpreted as the woman being drugged. For instance, in the line "Say what's in this drink?" She appears quite suspicious of the contents of the drink she has taken, which could indicate that the man has slipped something into her drink without her knowledge.
In conclusion, "Baby It's Cold Outside" by Dean Martin is a classic example of a song that contains themes of coercion, manipulation, and sexual harassment. Although the song has been the subject of debate and controversy, especially in contemporary times, its catchy tune and clever lyrics have made it a popular classic that continues to be played during the holiday season.
Line by Line Meaning
I really can't stay
I need to leave
(but, baby, it's cold outside)
(but I feel pressured to stay because of the weather and social norms)
I've got to go away
I need to leave
(but, baby, it's cold outside)
(but I feel pressured to stay because of the weather and social norms)
This evening has been
I've enjoyed spending time with you tonight
So very nice
I've had a great time
My mother will start to worry
My family will be concerned about my safety
(beautiful what's your hurry?)
(what's the rush? Stay a while longer)
My father will be pacing the floor
My family will be concerned about my safety
(listen to the fireplace roar)
(it's nice and cozy inside)
So really I'd better scurry
I should leave soon
(beautiful please don't hurry)
(but I want to enjoy your company a little longer)
But maybe just a half a drink more
Okay, I'll stay a little longer and have some more to drink
(put some records on while I pour)
(let's enjoy some music)
The neighbors might think
People might judge us for me staying over
(baby, it's bad out there)
(it's really cold outside)
Say what's in this drink?
I feel a little strange, did you put something in my drink?
(No cabs to be had out there)
(there are no taxis available to take me home)
I wish I knew how
I don't know how to leave without offending you
(your eyes are like starlight now)
(I am admiring your eyes)
To break this spell
I need to find a way to leave without hurting your feelings
(I'll take your hat, your hair looks swell)
(but first, let me help you with your hat and admire your hair)
I ought to say, no, no, no, sir
I should be more assertive and leave
(mind if I move in closer?)
(but I'm still enjoying being close to you)
At least I'm gonna say that I tried
I'll try to leave, but it may not be easy
(what's the sense in hurtin' my pride?)
(I don't want to offend you, so I may stay a little longer)
But (oh), baby, it's cold outside
But I'm still feeling pressure to stay because of the weather and social norms
I simply must go
I really need to leave
(but, baby, it's cold outside)
(but I still feel pressure to stay because of the weather and social norms)
The answer is no
I can't stay any longer
(but, baby, it's cold outside)
(but I still feel pressure to stay because of the weather and social norms)
Your welcome has been
I've enjoyed spending time with you
(how lucky that you dropped in)
(I'm grateful that we got to spend time together)
So nice and warm (look out the window at this dawn)
(it's warm and cozy inside, and the sun is coming up outside)
My sister will be suspicious
My family will be suspicious of me staying over
(gosh, your lips look delicious)
(but I still want to spend more time with you)
My brother will be there at the door
My family will be waiting for me when I get home
(waves upon the tropical shore)
(but it's so cold out here)
My maiden aunt's mind is vicious
My family will gossip and say nasty things about me
(gosh, your lips are delicious)
(but I'm enjoying being close to you)
But maybe just a cigarette more
I'll stay a little longer, but not for long
(never such a blizzard before)
(it's really cold outside)
I've gotta get home
I really need to leave
(but, baby, you'd freeze out there)
(but it's so cold outside)
Say, lend me a coat
Can I borrow a coat to wear outside?
(it's up to your knees out there)
(but it's so cold and there's so much snow outside)
You've really been grand
I've enjoyed our time together
(I thrill when you touch my hand)
(I still feel an attraction to you)
But don't you see?
Can't you understand that I need to leave?
(How can you do this thing to me?)
(Why are you making it so hard for me to leave?)
There's bound to be talk tomorrow
People will gossip about me staying over
(think of my lifelong sorrow)
(It's going to be difficult for me to live this down)
At least there will be plenty implied
People will assume the worst
(if you got pneumonia and died)
(if something bad happens to me because I stayed over)
I really can't stay
I really need to leave
(get over that old doubt)
(but please don't doubt my feelings for you)
Baby, it's cold
It's really cold outside
Baby, it's cold outside
I still feel pressure to stay because of the weather and social norms
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Frank Loesser
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind