The liberal left and I finally agree on something! I’ve been saying this for years!
PC Policing
Just in case you haven’t noticed, everything and its grandma has to be politically correct these days. The whole world (or at least Western society) has become nothing but a bunch of whining victims looking for any reason to get offended.
Last week the offended left expressed their hurt feelings in the Huffington Post as they condemned the 1964 classic “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Why? Because it supposedly supports the marginalization of people who are different.
But what really irritates me is that the Left-leaning snowflakes have finally caught on to something I have tried to point out for several years, that “Baby It’s Cold Outside” should offend us. And the sad thing is that conservative commentators – folks usually on my side of things – are poo-poo-ing the complaint.
Believe me, I hate to agree with liberals, but I do think “Baby It’s Cold Outside” is offensive.
“No!” Means “NO!”
“Baby It’s Cold Outside” absolutely disgusts me. Every time I hear it sung on the radio (usually by Dean Martin), primarily during the Christmas season, it makes my blood boil! But what happens when I complain? Nothing; it’s “just an innocent song,” they say.
It’s just a “cat and mouse” thing, they say.
But seriously, would you just consider the lyrics? Have we not progressed to the point in society where we recognize red flags when we see them? Or, are we still in the age when it’s perfectly acceptable to coerce a woman, to interpret her “no” as a “yes”?
Is it acceptable these days to care nothing about a girl’s feelings and reputation all because your pride might get hurt if she says no to your advances? Well, that’s all “Baby It’s Cold Outside” is; an aroused sexual predator pressuring a reluctant date to stay the night, drugging her if necessary.
Red Flags
To make my point, I have included the lyrics to “Baby It’s Cold Outside” in this post, highlighting and commenting along the way.
“Baby It’s Cold Outside”
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
Up until this point, it’s not that bad. Asking someone to stay the night is not the problem (from a legal sense). But things start to progress from questionable to insensitive pressuring very quickly.
My 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 pour
So, the girl actually cares about the feelings of her parents – imagine that! But does that matter to the guy? No. He cares nothing for her fears or her parents feelings – sounds like a real “keeper.”
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
Yeah, who cares what the neighbors think? No biggie, right? But isn’t putting drugs in your date’s drink illegal? Isn’t denying your date safe transport home considered kidnapping? Isn’t drugging your date and keeping her against her will the precursors to rape? I guess it’s hard to break the “spell” of a drug once it’s already caused one’s eyes to sparkle like “starlight.”
I 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 outside
Notice the “no, no, no” followed by the predator’s advancing moves (as a father, I wan’t to beat the crap out of this guy about now). She said “no,” but she also said she “ought” to say no. Well, what do you expect someone drugged to say??? Now you’ve got a girl who’s unable to decide for herself what to do and a guy who’s making her feel guilty for not putting out!! Whatever happened to the season of giving, not getting, hmmm?
I’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?
Don’t you just love this? It’s now around the fifth time this girl’s expressed her desire to leave her date’s house, but he won’t give up. Then she appeals to chivalry and asks for his coat, because by now she can’t remember why she doesn’t have one, even though it’s cold enough to be snowing. Does he give it to her like a gentleman should? No, he hides her coat (evidently) and continues to touch her! Finally, she begs him to recognize her reluctance, but all the animal can do is play mind games (a hallmark of predators).
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
Oh, baby, it’s cold outside
Oh, baby, it’s cold outside
Once again, it’s all “poor me” from the predator, mixed in with a little twist of feigned caring (“Oh, you’ll get sick!”). Does he care about her reputation? Does he care about her at all? Evidently not. Even after she makes one last plea, all he can say is “get over your holding out on me!” Because, after all, it’s cold outside.
– Lyrics written by: Frank Loesser, 1944
I’m dead serious about this, people. This is no joke! If we will allow every other little thing to offend our sensibilities, and yet allow this song to be played over the airwaves without saying something, we are nothing but a bunch of hypocrites.
However, unlike the liberals on the left, I don’t think the song should be “banned.” When we start banning things, we start down a dark road. But at the very least we shouldn’t promote it or sing it without considering the message it promotes.
Am I overreacting? What if it was YOUR daughter?
The Recovering Legalist 
Good grief. I thought I knew the lyrics to most of the Christmas songs that have played every year for the past 60+ years, but I didn’t know this one. Maybe the radio stations where I have lived all these years found it offensive and didn’t play it? It’s really horrible!!
But, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer is bad, and this horror is okay? Seriously, this world is nuts.
Did you ever see the movie “Elf” with Will Ferrell and Zooey Deschanel? She sang it in the shower, remember? (Gotta admit, she had a killer voice)
No, I’m not much of a movie goer. I remember seeing the trailers for that movie. But I’m mostly into books.
Well, “Elf” is a funny and clever movie worth watching for entertainment value. But speaking of movies, what about “The Princess Bride”? My favorite.
I haven’t seen that one, either. I’ll have to ask my 37 year old son. Not only has he seen almost every movie ever made at least once, he also owns most of them, on DVD. His collection is massive!
Totally agree with you, Anthony.
I skip Christmas music on the radio anymore. But, still I don’t recall hearing that one much when I do listen. I have to admit I’m with Linda here. I don’t recall the words or the main storyline of the song. Just that catchy chorus line “baby, it’s cold outside”. Thanks for the clarification. You make a great point. Much like the song “Take me to church” has absolutely nothing to do with worshipping God Almighty. Songs can be soooo skewed yet totally accepted because of a catchy melody or lyric. Smh…
Thanks for the comment, Quirky Friend 🙂 Yeah, the “Take Me to Church” song (along with a few others) is not what the title implies.
I never really listened to the lyrics closely. TY. I always thought the woman really wanted to stay and was letting the man convince her. I reread the lyrics and you are right. I am from the fifties and was innocent about this, as my father was very strict. 🙂
LOL! I appreciate your heart Anthony, and that you care. It’s definitely a seductive song and if we were to be consistent about our beliefs,we would acknowledge that “dishonor your parents, throw caution to the wind, and completely ignore the Holy Spirit who is obviously whispering to you,” are not good messages.
Agree with you with regards to the song. It is part of 2 movies from the 40’s … Here is a clip from the 2nd movie. The roles are reversed.
Also, while we are discussing the liberal mindset of the PC world. I just read today that “bringing home the bacon” is now an offensive phrase by the liberal PC police. It is offensive to both religious groups as well as to vegetarians.
Our world is in a desperate and dark place and only 1 thing can heal that. His name is JESUS CHRIST
Sorry this is the one
Hi Anthony, I have been thinking about your post all day. I decided to do some research on where this song came from as well as the storyline. If you just listen to the song on the radio, in today’s “Me Too” movement, I can see how this song would be an issue. The movie was released in 1949 when our society had stronger values and morals, especially on the silver screen. When we compare today’s standards to days of yester-years, there will always be people that will be offended by lyrics, storylines, certain characters, and stereotypes. If that song was to be recorded today by some famous rap-singer, would there be an outcry from the liberals? Probably not. The movies, TV shows, and music of today is much more offensive than the movies from the 1930s – 1950s. Yes, there were movies, TV shows and songs that crossed the line according to today’s liberal snowflakes. The Donna Reid Show is a great example of stereotyping women. If the liberals had their way, I’m sure that they would ban just about every record, book, movie or TV show THEY found offensive.
You asked if you were overreacting. No, I don’t think so. You raise some very valid points. What I hate to see are the liberals making such an issue about these things while they rock out to the cesspool of vulgarities on their stereos and think Christians and conservatives need to be tolerant.
Thank you very much for the thoughtful comment and the thought you put in to it. You were correct in every bit of it.
As much as I dislike the message of this song, I hate the idea that publicly criticizing it might lend momentum to the vagina-hat-wearing #metoo activists put a demon under every rock where none previously resided. We live in such a messed up world, don’t we? But I felt I had to say something, even if there are more important things to worry about.
By the way, I don’t think Charlie Brown is racist. Also, if someone would just suggest that “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer” was an early example of an LGBT coming-out film, the liberal critics would quit their bashing of it.
Like I said, it’s a messed up world.
I never listened to the words of this song before, and you are quite right. It’s horrible! I’ve also been noticing lately how so many young people don’t know the words to the Christmas carols I grew up with, and you seldom hear them anymore.
And the Christmas songs we do here are usually sanitized for the secular war to endure. If the average person would listen to every verse of many of the classic Christmas hymns he’d be shocked at the theology proclaimed.