"Baby, It's Cold Outside"

Brad has an interesting post on the Baby It's Cold Outside. I'm glad I'm not the only person who finds the full lyrics to the song somewhat disturbing.

Contemporary radio versions usually omit what appear to be date rape jokes...

My mother will start to worry. (Beautiful, what's your hurry?)
And 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. (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 the 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 of hurtin' my pride?)
I really can't stay ... (Baby, don't hold out.)
Ah, but it's cold outside.

Brad has some very interesting observations about the history of the song. I agree that the song is intended as a light-hearted parody of seduction--not as a straight-faced endorsement of date rape. This is supposed to be a mellow, funny song about seduction. The joke is that the guy will go to any lengths to get this woman to stay over. But some of his ploys just don't sound as funny to a contemporary audience. At the time the song was written, the average listener probably didn't consider date rape to be rape. These days, it's not as easy to laugh along.

Moving from the questionable to the downright icky, Why I Hate DC has a delightfully scathing synopsis Franklin Schneider's creepy adventures in the DC bar scene.