Today’s classic Christmas song of the day is “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” written by famed songwriter Frank Loesser. It’s not a Christmas song per se, in that it doesn’t mention the holidays, but its snowy winter theme inspires listeners to identify it with the season.
Frank Loesser wrote “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” in 1944 to sing with his wife, Lynn Garland, at the housewarming party for their apartment at the Navarro Hotel in New York City. They sang the song to indicate to guests that it was time to leave; it was a “closing song,” as it were.
Here’s what Lynn Garland remembers of those times and the impact of that song:
“We became instant parlor room stars. We got invited to all the best parties for years on the basis of ‘Baby.’ It was our ticket to caviar and truffles. Parties were built around our being the closing act.”
“Baby, It’s Cold Outside” reached a national audience when it was included in the 1949 movie, Neptune’s Daughter. It was included in the movie twice. The first pass has Ricardo Montalbán trying to put the moves on Esther Williams, and it’s pretty charming. Even better is the role reversal with Red Skelton and Betty Garrett, which is hilarious. It made enough of an impact to win the 1950 Academy Award for Best Original Song.
The song details the urging of an amorous “wolf” to convince a sort-of reluctant “mouse” to hang around just a little bit longer, with each excuse by the mouse met by another pleading from the wolf:
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
But maybe just a half a drink more
I’ll put some records on while I pour
“Baby, It’s Cold Outside” has been recorded by dozens of artists over the years, typically in a duet format. The most well-known version is probably the one by Dean Martin (with a female chorus), but you can find versions by Doris Day and Bob Hope, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Jordan, Dinah Shore and Buddy Clark, Margaret Whiting and Johnny Mercer, Louis Armstrong and Velma Middleton, Sammy Davis Jr. and Carmen McRae, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme, Ray Charles and Betty Carter, Al Hirt and Ann-Margret, Blossom Dearie and Bob Dorough, Nancy LaMott and Michael Feinstein, Lou Rawls and Diane Reeves, Suzy Bogguss and Delbert McClinton, Lee Ann Womack and Harry Connick Jr., Zooey Deschanel and Leon Redbone, Rod Stewart and Dolly Parton, Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey, James Taylor and Natalie Cole, Idina Menzel and Michael Buble, Cee Lo Green and Christina Aguilera, Larry Lovestein and Ariana Grande, Seth McFarlane and Sara Bareilles, Darius Rucker and Sheryl Crow, Willie Nelson and Norah Jones, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, Amy Grant and Vince Gill, John Legend and Kelly Clarkson, and many, many more.
Despite its lasting popularity, “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” has fallen out of favor of late, as some regard the wolf’s pursuit of the mouse as sexist and predatory, verging perhaps on date rape. I think that’s ridiculous; there’s a difference between a little persistence and premeditated assault. Still, if you’re offended by the lyrics, click away from this page and don’t listen to the song. It’s your loss.
