An Update on "Baby It's Cold Outside"

The song "Baby It's Cold Outside" was written in 1944 as a romantic comedy duet. In the 21st century, it has come to be seen as creepy because the man is trying to prevent a woman from leaving his company. 

The country-western duo The Doohickeys rewrote the song by changing only the male lines to make it more appropriate for modern sensibilities. So she's in 1944 and he's in 2025- talk about an age gap! In this version, it becomes obvious that the woman really wants to stay, but she is using the expected performative phrases to protect her reputation as "hard to get" or a "good girl." The clues as to her age don't translate well across the years, because in 1944 it was more common for a woman to live with her parents until she married, no matter her age. What she really wants out of the evening is ambiguous, because back in the day, the difference between romance and sex wasn't explicitly discussed in polite society. It's no wonder signals were so often crossed. "Clear and enthusiastic consent" may not lend itself to jokes as well, but it's a better way.