Radio Bans ‘Baby It’s Cold Outside’ Over Claims It’s A Rape Song, English Teacher Explains Its Real Meaning

While in a modern context, the song is truly cringey, the subtext of the song, even without knowing what "What's in this drink?" meant in the time that it was written, is pretty obvious. They both want to spend the night together, and she's worried about what people might think of her. In a way, that's also a bit cringey through modern eyes, but hardly offensive. If we start banning every song that might not fit into modern tastes, we'll have nothing left. Grow up, people.

I am just weary of OTHER people telling me what I should and shouldn't be offended of. What I should and shouldn't watch, listen, read etc., etc.. I have a brain. Turns on Baby It's Cold Outside AND sings along!!!

I just learned something new and interesting. Thanks

So this song has been around for decades and just this year we are offended by it? Give me a break! If you don’t like it, just don’t listen to it. Let me be the judge of what I want to listen to, as this song is still one of my favorites.

"What to get offended about, today I wonder." "Hmm, let's see, Jingle Bells will be about..." *throws dart* "Homicide."

In case anyone is interested, the actors are: Esther Williams and Ricardo Montalban. And the other was Betty Garrett and Red Skelton. Both scenes were well choreographed.

I don't feel that It's a song about rape, rather a woman trying to give her self permission to behave the way, she wants to!

what bunch of c**p! it is NOT about RAPE! give me a break! two people in love that's worried about what the neighbors might say is NOT RAPE!!!

THANK YOU! I feel like a lot of people ignore the original context including the film it was from, where it's REALLY clear that the woman wants to stay, but is under all sorts of social pressures to not be looked at as some sort of floozy.

I think I'm more creeped out by the twisted things people will come up with to justify their 15 minutes on the soapbox. Normal people just don't perv out from hearing a song and trying to shame others into your sick thinking only makes it worse.

The drawback of society becoming more sensitive is people are more easily offended. Even innocent lyrics can seem sinister. It's one thing to remove or change truly sexist, racist, etc. lyrics to something more acceptable, but another to take a line out of context and claim it's a glorification of date rape.

To the person who said "Now do the AC/DC song that goes "Don't you struggle, don't you fight." The song is called Let Me Put My Love Into You and the actual words are "Don't you struggle, don't you fight, don't you worry, cause it's your turn tonight." It means fighting and struggling over wanting to get nailed, not getting raped. Or you can be one of those people that twists everything for no reason and invent that the fictitious character in the song is some sort of serial rapist.

clearly people thinking it's a rape song doesn't know cold a*s winter xD

Banning music now? I'd expect that from Russia or China, but it's sad to see it happening in the west. It seems rather Orwellian. Why can't people tell the difference between fiction and reality? And why is nobody outraged about Nabokov's novel "Lolita" where the protagonist is literally a pedophile. And many people consider it a "literary classic", but somehow get enraged by a song. I'd like to see someone try and analyze a Rammstein song like Wiener Blut.

The lyrics clearly say that she went to his place (This evening has been (Been hoping that you'd dropped in). And while he tries to get her to stay, he never tries to force her. Throughout the song she does not express any concern about her safety or that she is being coerced. The drink he gives her may or may not be strong, but he doesn't force her to drink it. She wants to stay, but worries about how society will perceive it. Persuading a woman to stay or to have sex isn't rape, it is concern for her safety or it is seduction. Twice in the song he mentions that she came to his place. Maybe the song should be banned because she is a sexual predator attempting to seduce this innocent and upright young man into fornicating?

I've heard this song hundreds of times with my grandmother growing up. Listening to it now it sounds like two people desperate to come up with an excuse to stay together for some hot loven.

I guess "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" is about infidelity.

I find it offensive that anyone would think it's about rape. . . so stop it!

It's a great song, Kudos to bigbutterandeggman for providing some perspective. Wildadragon, you are right, the original is just fine, absolutely does not need some millennial wannabe "putting their own touch" on it.

Read to the end. The author says it is "one of the best illustrations of rape culture...It's a song about a society in which women are not allowed to say yes...it's also a society where women do not have a clear and unambiguous way to say no."

There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with this song. Another consideration about the drink comment - double entendre, if you will - she is feeling kinda high, from her feelings about this man and him signalling he feels the same way. So, her comment about what's in the drink can also be one of the ways she signals to him that she is digging being there - as in, I am drinking lemonade but I feel all weak and dizzy being here with you, so is there something in my drink or are my chemicals churning over you right now!. So, all these people are just crazy, and frankly somewhat illiterate in comprehending the English language to interpret this song as rape.

Exactly that is how I have just tried to explain it -i OUGHT TO SAY NO NOT I AM SAYING NO. it's a classic and classy flirtation

Say no if you mean no. That's the standard. The song is fine.

Just listen to the song; or exercise your other right to choose--turn it down or turn it off!

For the women who think this might make their daughters more susceptible to rape, you need to turn in your parenting card since you seem to not be using it. Parents need to stop allowing songs, movies and other literature raise their children. How about explaining that this song is just that, a song. How about explaining that this is not the norm and that it is from a different era. How about giving your children a lesson or two on self defense if you are that worried. How about teaching your children right from wrong so that she/he will never be on either side of the rape coin. And how about you get a clue and stop using others for your lame a*s excuses for not being a responsible person!