# Meaning Of Cold Hands in 'Bettie Davis Eyes'. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 24, 2020, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-cold-hands-in-bettie-davis-eyes/852483 "2020-04-24T04:46:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-cold-hands-in-bettie-davis-eyes/852483/1 "2020-04-24T04:46:38Z")
I guess I can confess to you all, I am technically old enough to remember Kim Carnes’ 1980’s hit _Bettie Davis Eyes_. I think I was 12 or 13 at the time. But still. Anyways, I never understood why the subject of the song didn’t have cold hands. [Here](https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/kimcarnes/bettedaviseyes.html) are the lyrics in their entirety. And here is the part that has me confused: > [@](#): > > Her hair is Harlow gold > Her lips sweet surprise > **Her hands are never cold** > She’s got Bette Davis eyes Bolding mine. What does it mean when a woman’s hands are never cold? Or at least, maybe I should ask what Carnes meant? I actually recall hearing, ironically around the time the song came out, that there may be a medical theory why one or more of a woman’s hands are cold. But I am sure that is irrelevant. Hey, don’t laugh. I may not be the first person to wonder this, even if I am the first to ask;). :):):):):):)🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-cold-hands-in-bettie-davis-eyes/852483/2 "2020-04-24T05:19:24Z")
I don’t know. But nitpick: It’s Bette, not Bettie. ---
**Author:** ![GMANCANADA](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gmancanada/32/2837_2.png) [@GMANCANADA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GMANCANADA)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-cold-hands-in-bettie-davis-eyes/852483/3 "2020-04-24T05:23:16Z")
I’ve always assumed, based on no info at all, that this was an allusion to the phrase “Cold hands warm heart” In her case, her hands are never cold, i.e.: they’re warm, so she has a cold heart. Which is keeping with the rest of the song I thought. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-cold-hands-in-bettie-davis-eyes/852483/4 "2020-04-24T05:25:43Z")
They’re warm and pleasant to the touch. It’s pleasant when they touch you. (I assume she’s touching in an intimate manner.) What else could it mean? ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-cold-hands-in-bettie-davis-eyes/852483/5 "2020-04-24T05:30:53Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > They’re warm and pleasant to the touch. It’s pleasant when they touch you. (I assume she’s touching in an intimate manner.) > > What else could it mean? Yeah, this, plus needing something to rhyme with “gold.” ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-cold-hands-in-bettie-davis-eyes/852483/6 "2020-04-24T05:35:09Z")
> [@GMANCANADA](#): > > In her case, her hands are never cold, i.e.: they’re warm, so she has a cold heart. Which is keeping with the rest of the song I thought. The rest of the song is about how passionate she is. While she’s a tease, she also pleases: > [@](#): > > And she’ll tease you > She’ll unease you > All the better just to please ya So as far as I can see from the rest of the lyrics, the meaning is literal: she has the warm hands of a passionate woman. ---
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-cold-hands-in-bettie-davis-eyes/852483/7 "2020-04-24T12:45:59Z")
If you didn’t know… Bette Davis Eyes was written by Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon in 1974. The Kim Carnes version is a remake. And I have no insight on the cold hands thing. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-cold-hands-in-bettie-davis-eyes/852483/8 "2020-04-24T14:08:49Z")
Poor circulation. ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-cold-hands-in-bettie-davis-eyes/852483/9 "2020-04-24T14:23:09Z")
Hyperthyroidism ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-cold-hands-in-bettie-davis-eyes/852483/10 "2020-04-24T14:25:33Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > The rest of the song is about how passionate she is. While she’s a tease, she also pleases: > > So as far as I can see from the rest of the lyrics, the meaning is literal: she has the warm hands of a passionate woman. This is about all that makes sense. That is assuming it’s not just to rhyme something with ‘gold’. ---
**Author:** ![Borborygmi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/borborygmi/32/217_2.png) [@Borborygmi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Borborygmi)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-cold-hands-in-bettie-davis-eyes/852483/11 "2020-04-24T14:44:45Z")
I am generally not astute at interpreting song lyrics so take this with a grain of salt, but to me this line has never been anything other than a means to draw a contrast to the cold hands of a nervous or anxious person. The woman with Bette Davis eyes is always confident and in control. ---
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-cold-hands-in-bettie-davis-eyes/852483/12 "2020-04-24T15:51:27Z")
I do think in the context of the rest of the song it means she does have a cold heart (and thus warm hands). Maybe not like a murderer, but maybe manipulative and predatory. Context snipped. And she’ll tease you She’ll unease you She’ll let you take her home It whets her appetite She’ll lay you on her throne Roll you like you were dice Until you come out blue She’ll expose you, when she snows you Off your feet with the crumbs she throws you She’s ferocious and she knows just What it takes to make a pro blush ---
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-cold-hands-in-bettie-davis-eyes/852483/13 "2020-04-24T17:58:55Z")
Apparently Jackie DeShannon wrote this song after seeing Now, Voyager. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen the movie, but there was something about her wringing her hands. Maybe portions of the movie were on her mind when she wrote the song. And since the song mentioned Harlow and Garbo it could be a combination of similar actors. Like “all the boys think she’s a spy” is a reference to Hedy Lamarr and her inventions. And now I’m playing the American Pie game. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-cold-hands-in-bettie-davis-eyes/852483/14 "2020-04-24T18:29:05Z")
> [@Author\_Balk](#): > > And since the song mentioned Harlow and Garbo it could be a combination of similar actors. Like “all the boys think she’s a spy” is a reference to Hedy Lamarr and her inventions. Or maybe Marlene Dietrich. Or Natasha Fatale. 😉 She may be a blonde (probably bleached), but she’s still dark and mysterious and alluring. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-cold-hands-in-bettie-davis-eyes/852483/15 "2020-04-24T18:42:06Z")
> [@pool](#): > > Hyperthyroidism I always wanted to write alternate lyrics to this song, turning into “She’s got Marty Feldman Eyes” ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-cold-hands-in-bettie-davis-eyes/852483/16 "2020-04-24T20:25:39Z")
> [@Ashtura](#): > > She’s ferocious and she knows just > What it takes to make a pro blush Huh. I always thought it was “make a crow blush.” ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-cold-hands-in-bettie-davis-eyes/852483/17 "2020-04-24T20:40:06Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > I always wanted to write alternate lyrics to this song, turning into “She’s got Marty Feldman Eyes” [Already been done.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3vtk7hd2XI) ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-cold-hands-in-bettie-davis-eyes/852483/18 "2020-04-24T20:56:47Z")
As much as I love the way Kim Carnes sings that song, it is ruined for me by the painfully awkward line _She’s ferocious and she knows just what it takes to make a pro blush_. Talk about strained lyrics. As noted upthread, the never-cold hands are doubtless just there to rhyme with “gold,” but at least warm hands make sense, whereas the blushing pro is just contrived. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-cold-hands-in-bettie-davis-eyes/852483/19 "2020-04-24T23:07:44Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Or maybe Marlene Dietrich. Or Natasha Fatale. Nah. It’s Regina from Brian Eno’s **Taking Tiger Mountain (by Strategy).** \*When I got back home I found a message on the door Sweet Regina’s gone to China cross legged on the floor Of a burning jet that’s smoothly flying Burning airlines give you so much more How does she intend to live when she’s in far Cathay? I somehow can’t imagine her just planting rice all day maybe she will do a bit of spying With micro cameras hidden in her hair.\* — “Burning Airlines Give You Much More,” 1974 ---
**Author:** ![GMANCANADA](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gmancanada/32/2837_2.png) [@GMANCANADA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GMANCANADA)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2020, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-cold-hands-in-bettie-davis-eyes/852483/20 "2020-04-25T03:05:45Z")
**@Colabri** I never thought it was about a straight up passionate woman, I always interpreted it exactly as Ashtura said: > [@](#): > > …maybe manipulative and predatory. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-cold-hands-in-bettie-davis-eyes/852483.md?page=2)