Baby It's Cold Outside
Idina Menzel Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I really can't stay
Baby, it's cold outside
I gotta go away
Baby, it's cold outside
This evening has been
Been hoping that you'd dropped 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 that fireplace roar
So really I'd better scurry
Beautiful, please don't hurry
Well, maybe just a half a drink more
I'll 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 this spell
I'll take your hat, your hair looks swell
Why thank you
I ought to say no, no, no sir
Mind if 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
Baby, it's cold outside

Ah, you're very pushy, you know
I like to think of it as opportunistic

I simply must go
Baby, it's cold outside
The answer is no
But, baby, it's cold outside
The 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
Gosh your lips are delicious
Well, maybe just a cigarette more
Never such a blizzard before
And I don't even smoke

I gotta get home
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 feel when I touch your hand
But 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'll be plenty implied
If you caught pneumonia and died
I really can't stay
Get over that hold out
Baby, it's cold
Baby, it's cold outside





Okay, fine, just another drink then
That took a lot of convincing

Overall Meaning

The song Baby It's Cold Outside was written by Frank Loesser in 1944, and it is a duet between two characters who are referred to as "Wolf" and "Mouse." In its context, the song was written as a flirtatious game of persuasion, an innocent interaction between a man and a woman during Christmastime. However, the song's lyrics have been the subject of controversy in recent years due to their perceived implication of sexual harassment and drugging.


The first verse begins with the female character expressing a wish to leave due to the cold weather, but the male character tries to convince her to stay for "just a half a drink more." The female is then concerned about what others will think, such as their respective parents, the neighbors, and her sister. The male character continues to persuade her to stay for her own safety, claiming that he will lend her a coat and that it's too cold outside. The song ends with the female character giving in to his persuasion.


The controversial lyrics of the song have led to debates about its appropriateness in modern times. While some argue that it promotes sexual harassment and a lack of respect for boundaries, others argue that it was written in a different era and should be viewed contextually. Regardless, the song remains a classic Christmas tune that has been covered by numerous artists over the years.


Line by Line Meaning

I really can't stay (Baby it's cold outside)
I don't want to stay, but it's really cold outside


I gotta go away (Baby it's cold outside)
I have to leave because it's cold outside


This evening has been (Been hoping that you'd dropped in)
I've been looking forward to your visit


So very nice (I'll hold your hands they're just like ice)
It's great to have you here, but your hands are cold


My mother will start to worry (Beautiful what's your hurry?)
My mom will be concerned if you leave too soon


My father will be pacing the floor (Listen to the fireplace roar)
My dad is anxious and the fireplace is making noise


So really I'd better scurry (Beautiful please don't hurry)
I should probably leave soon, but don't rush


Well maybe just a half a drink more (I'll put some records on while I pour)
Maybe I'll have one more drink and we can listen to music


The neighbors might think (Baby it's bad out there)
People will judge me if I leave in this weather


Say what's in this drink? (No cabs to be had out there)
I'm curious about what's in my drink, and there are no taxis available


I wish I knew how (Your eyes are like starlight now)
I'm drawn to you and your eyes are beautiful


To break this spell (I'll take your hat, your hair looks swell) (Why thank you)
I want to snap out of this trance and compliment you on your appearance


I ought to say no, no, no sir (Mind if move in closer?)
I know I should refuse, but can I get closer to you?


At least I'm gonna say that I tried (What's the sense of hurtin' my pride?)
I will try to resist, but why bother if it will just hurt my ego?


Baby it's cold outside
It's still really cold outside


Ah, you're very pushy you know?
You're quite persistent


I like to think of it as opportunistic
I prefer to call it seizing the chance


I simply must go (Baby it's cold outside)
I really have to leave because it's freezing outside


The answer is no (But baby it's cold outside)
I don't want to accept your invitation, but it's so cold


The welcome has been (How lucky that you dropped in)
I'm glad you came to visit


So nice and warm (Look out the window at that storm)
It's cozy inside while it's storming outside


My sister will be suspicious (Gosh your lips look delicious!)
My sister will think something is going on because your lips look tempting


My brother will be there at the door (Waves upon a tropical shore)
My brother is coming over and he's as unwelcome as a wave on a shore


My maiden aunt's mind is vicious (Gosh your lips are delicious!)
My aunt can be mean and she'll also notice your lips


Well maybe just a cigarette more (Never such a blizzard before) (And I don't even smoke)
Perhaps I'll have one more cigarette, but it's never snowed this much before and I don't even smoke


I've got to get home (Baby you'll freeze out there)
I really need to go home, or you'll freeze if you stay here


Say lend me a coat? (It's up to your knees out there!)
Can I borrow a coat? The snow is really deep out there!


You've really been grand, (I feel when I touch your hand)
You've been amazing, and I feel something when I touch you


But don't you see? (How can you do this thing to me?)
Can't you see that it's wrong to make me want to stay?


There's bound to be talk tomorrow (Think of my life long sorrow!)
People will gossip about us tomorrow, and it will cause me lifelong pain


At least there will be plenty implied (If you caught pneumonia and died!)
Even if we don't do anything, people will assume the worst and be relieved if you got sick and left


I really can't stay (Get over that old out)
I cannot stay, so stop trying to persuade me


Baby it's cold
It's very cold outside


Baby it's cold outside
It's still freezing outside


Okay fine, just another drink then
Fine, I'll have one more drink


That took a lot of convincing!
You really had to persuade me to stay




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Frank Loesser

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@natebroadus8474

@@123axel123 depends on the stage of their relationship. He might have been reminiscing.

Either way, what we know for a fact is Frank Loesser wrote the song in 1944 for he and his wife to perform at parties. The theme has nothing to do with sexual assault, either. It's about a man urging his girlfriend/fiance to stay, rather than go out in a blizzard. For unmarried couples to spend the night together in that era was considered scandalous. The woman makes mention of it numerous times in the song, yet even she displays signs she wants to stay ("So really I'd better scurry... Well, maybe just a half a drink more").

This whole stupid thing hinges on one single line in the song ("-say, what's in this drink?"), which is about as vague as you can possibly get and entirely driven by modern perspectives of date rape drugs. Maybe she's a light weight? Maybe it was a particularly strong vintage? Notice that, unlike most people under a drug, she never loses her faculties ("I ought to say no-no-no sir... At least I'm gonna say that I tried.") She's already thinking about what she is going to say the next day to explain why she spent the night in case anyone asks, ffs.

Yet as much as she claims to protest, SHE keeps making the decision to stay ("My maiden aunt's mind is vicious... Well, maybe just a cigarette more.").

He wants her to stay and she wants to stay -- they're just pondering how it might look based on societal standards of the time.

This whole so-called rape connection is based in zero fact. You might as well try to get Somebody's Watching Me banned for promoting stalking.



@francisdalapo5770

Amazing! What a wonderful choreography! The act shows how little kids can portray grown ups at their best.

The director of this little show reminds me of the good old days.

The art of dancing and singing together with acting shows how wonderful God is.

I always consider God is the source of all our talents. The glory of man's ability to make things happen the way it should be is because everything is inspired by Him.

Once again, I am pretty much delighted of this short video clip . More power and may God bless us all. Happy holidays!!!



@kittenschoice

I like this music video by Michael SO MUCH MORE. The song comes off as light hearted and cute.

When you watch the original music video, it does seem a little creepy.
when she says "maybe just have a drink more"
the man points to a corner to get her to look there as he says "put some records on while I pour" and he grabs a glass that's already prepared on the table next to him quickly without making it obvious or looking at it, and distracting her by pointing to the opposite direction of where the drink is, telling her to "put some records on while I pour" so he can get it without her noticing.
that particular scene in the old music video version creeped me out.
then immediately he hands it to her the drink as she talks about what the neighbors might think. As she's about to sip, she stops before it touched her lips and says "say whats in this drink"
THE OLD MUSIC VIDEO IS SO BAD LOL OMG - I hope michael is trying to put more focus on the beauty of the song itself, to help people forget the original music video that was attributed to it.

Old music video: youtube.com/watch?v=7MFJ7ie_yGU
crazy how times change so drastically as to what is acceptable in society, and what isn't.

Edit: he even changed those lyrics. to "maybe one soda pop more". and the "say whats in this drink' changed to "say, was that a wink?"
they should have encouraged this version of the song, I bet nobody noticed these small changes he made so that the old implications of the song wouldn't apply to his version.



@vanessagardea3880

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All comments from YouTube:

@Kalahridudex

Idina: Sorry I stayed at Michael's house, it was just too cold outside
Idina's family: But the cold never bothered you...

@emilyelizabeth9866

DEAD 😂😂😂 Best way to start the day

@emilysalazar9352

Idina: let it go!

@o4_

Why did you do this do me?

@D.O.N.U.T.

NOT THIS SONG AGAIN AAAAAAGGGHHHH

@_llydsgh3826

Oml fr tho

56 More Replies...

@TheSolidMidgetOfficial

Wow. Kids these days have deeper voices.

@olibrr.

Ikr 😳

@BookEatPeople

Just imagine them in a few years

@cardodalisay817

Are you stupid? Those aren't kids.

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