Baby It's Cold Outside
Rod Stewart Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

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 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)
well Maybe just one little kiss more (Put some music 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)
I ought to say no, no, no, sir (Mind if I move a little 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 outside)

C'mon baby

I simply must go (Baby, it's cold outside)
The answer is no (Ooh baby, it's cold outside)
This welcome has been (I'm lucky that you dropped in)
So nice and warm (Look out the window at that storm)
My sister will be suspicious (Man, your lips look so delicious)
My brother will be there at the door (Waves upon a tropical shore)
My maiden aunt's mind is vicious (Gosh your lips look delicious)
Well maybe just one little kiss more (Never such a blizzard before)

I've got to go home (You'll freeze to the bone out there)
Say, lend me your comb (It's up to your knees out there)
You've really been grand (Your eyes are like starlight now)
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 be plenty implied (If you caught pneumonia and died)
I really can't stay (Get over that old out)
Ahh, but it's cold outside

Baby it's cold outside

Brr its cold
It's cold out there
Can't you stay awhile longer baby
Well I really shouldn't alright





Make it worth your while baby
Ahh, do that again

Overall Meaning

The song "Baby It's Cold Outside" by Frank Loesser is a duet between a male and female character who are enjoying a cozy evening together, but the woman is hesitant to stay due to the cold outside. She expresses her desire to leave, but the man is trying to convince her to stay by highlighting the warmth and comfort of his home. However, throughout the song, the lyrics imply that the woman is concerned about the potential judgement from her family and society about staying over at a man's abode, especially given the time period when the song was written (1944).


As the song progresses, the male character attempts to ply her with drinks and further persuade her to stay over. The woman's repeated concern about leaving - referencing her family's thoughts, the neighbors' judgment, and her own reservations - implies a power struggle in which the man is ignoring her wishes and pushing her to stay. The lyrics “What’s in this drink?” highlight her concern about the amount or nature of the beverage she has consumed, suggesting the possibility of alcohol or drugs being added.


Interestingly, this song is controversial in modern-day society and has been banned in some radio stations due to its perceived celebration of coercive or manipulative behavior. However, others argue that the song should be viewed in the context of its time period and the flirtatious nature of the genre.


Line by Line Meaning

I really can't stay (Baby it's cold outside)
I would like to stay longer, but it's too cold to do so


I've got to go away (Baby it's cold outside)
I need to leave because of the cold weather, even though I don't want to


This evening has been (Been hoping that you'd drop in)
I've been looking forward to spending time with you all evening


So very nice (I'll hold your hands, they're just like ice)
I've enjoyed spending time with you, even though your hands are cold


My mother will start to worry (Beautiful, what's your hurry)
My mother will wonder where I am and why I haven't come home yet


My father will be pacing the floor (Listen to the fireplace roar)
My father will be anxious and pacing while listening to the fireplace


So really I'd better scurry (Beautiful, please don't hurry)
I should leave soon, but I would like you to stay a little longer


Well maybe just one little kiss more (Put some music on while I pour)
I would like one more kiss before you leave, let me put some music on


The neighbors might think (Baby, it's bad out there)
Our neighbors may see us outside and think it's too dangerous because of the bad weather


Say, what's in this drink (No cabs to be had out there)
I wonder if something was added to my drink, and there are no taxis available to take you home


I wish I knew how (Your eyes are like starlight now)
I wish I knew how to resist your beautiful and captivating eyes


To break this spell (I'll take your hat, your hair looks swell)
I need to snap out of this trance, let me take your hat and admire your hair


I ought to say no, no, no, sir (Mind if I move a little closer)
I know I should say no to your advances, but I can't help but move closer


At least I'm gonna say that I tried (What's the sense in hurting my pride)
I'll tell myself that I tried to resist, but there's no point in feeling ashamed


I really can't stay (Baby don't hold out)
I really do have to leave, please don't try to convince me otherwise


Ah, but it's cold outside)
It's too cold to stay outside, despite my desire to spend more time with you


I simply must go (Baby, it's cold outside)
I absolutely have to leave because of the cold weather


The answer is no (Ooh baby, it's cold outside)
I cannot say yes to staying any longer because of how cold it is outside


This welcome has been (I'm lucky that you dropped in)
I'm grateful that you came to visit me


So nice and warm (Look out the window at that storm)
It's cozy and warm inside, while outside there's a raging snowstorm


My sister will be suspicious (Man, your lips look so delicious)
My sister may be suspicious of my intentions for staying, especially while I can't resist looking at your lips


My brother will be there at the door (Waves upon a tropical shore)
My brother may be home soon and interrupt our time together, just like a wave would interrupt a tropical shore


My maiden aunt's mind is vicious (Gosh your lips look delicious)
My aunt may have malicious thoughts about us, especially because your lips look appealing to me


Well maybe just one little kiss more (Never such a blizzard before)
I can't resist one more kiss, especially since we may never experience such a severe snowstorm again


I've got to go home (You'll freeze to the bone out there)
I need to get home because the weather is so cold that you will freeze


Say, lend me your comb (It's up to your knees out there)
Can I borrow your comb to fix my hair? The snowstorm is very deep outside


You've really been grand (Your eyes are like starlight now)
You've been amazing company, your eyes are shining like the stars


But don't you see (How can you do this thing to me)
Can't you understand what this is doing to me emotionally?


There's bound to be talk tomorrow (Making my life long sorrow)
People will likely talk about what happened tonight, and it will add to my long-standing sadness


At least there will be plenty implied (If you caught pneumonia and died)
Even if people don't say anything directly, the implications of what happened could be serious


I really can't stay (Get over that old out)
I absolutely have to leave, stop trying to hold me here


Ahh, but it's cold outside
Despite all of this, the cold weather is a major factor in why I have to leave


Brr its cold
It's really cold outside


It's cold out there
The weather outside is very cold


Can't you stay awhile longer baby
Can you please stay a little longer?


Well I really shouldn't alright
I shouldn't stay, but I want to


Make it worth your while baby
If you do stay, I'll make it worth your while


Ahh, do that again
That was great, can you do it again?




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

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

@jessicagrimaldi4285

This is the best version of this song in my opinion Rods voice makes me melt like butter ❤and I love Dolly ❤️

@johnpayne118

absolutely perfect together

@knightriderfan5700

I absolutely love this version of my favorite song probably because she's one of my favorite singers

@SueMaicas

Versión maravillosa!!!! Rod love you!

@vj563

Best version of this song hands down.

@shaka2784

Hands down thee best version!!💯

@RockerKevUK

Brill - love this. Should have been released as a single ☃❤

@godwon2201

Dolly thanks for always being you!!!

@kerenpariente

Masterpiece !!! Beautiful !!!

@marionmelvin5765

I am in love with this !!!

More Comments

More Versions