# The Song "Baby, It's cold outside" - are the roles ever reversed? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 22, 2011, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-song-baby-its-cold-outside-are-the-roles-ever-reversed/607113 "2011-12-22T20:13:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-song-baby-its-cold-outside-are-the-roles-ever-reversed/607113/1 "2011-12-22T20:13:47Z")
There must be a hundred versions of the song “Baby, It’s cold outside” In every one that I’ve heard, the couple are at the man’s place. She’s coming up with reasons she must leave, he’s trying to get her to say. Eventually, she agrees to stay a little longer. Are there any versions of this song where the 2 roles are reversed? She’s talking him into staying? ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-song-baby-its-cold-outside-are-the-roles-ever-reversed/607113/2 "2011-12-22T20:22:23Z")
Yes, it exists. I’ve heard it over the All-Christmas retail radio. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-song-baby-its-cold-outside-are-the-roles-ever-reversed/607113/3 "2011-12-22T20:36:30Z")
[Betty Garrett & Red Skelton](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHYqKEAehPU) This paralleled the Ricardo Montalban (wolf) and Esther Williams (lamb) [version](http://www.viddler.com/explore/ramperto/videos/1/) in the same movie (Neptune’s Daughter). ---
**Author:** ![Randy\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee7513/32.png) [@Randy\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randy_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-song-baby-its-cold-outside-are-the-roles-ever-reversed/607113/4 "2011-12-22T20:43:11Z")
First two I thought of: [Selma Blair & Rainn Wilson](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hEJQbEYjRg) [Miss Piggy & Rudolf Nureyev](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EJ1SBAO1HU) ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-song-baby-its-cold-outside-are-the-roles-ever-reversed/607113/5 "2011-12-22T20:46:51Z")
There’s also a Glee version with two men singing the parts. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-song-baby-its-cold-outside-are-the-roles-ever-reversed/607113/6 "2011-12-22T20:52:28Z")
I heard the roles reversed on the radio recently. The woman was Zoe Deschanel, I think but I don’t remember the man’s name. I only remember Zoe because she sang the other, traditional part in _Elf_. ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-song-baby-its-cold-outside-are-the-roles-ever-reversed/607113/7 "2011-12-22T20:53:02Z")
I’ve seen a clip of Dinah Shore and Ann Miller singing it to/with Fred MacMurray. It was very hammed up, with him trying to get away. I can’t seem to find the video to share a link. I must be spelling something wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-song-baby-its-cold-outside-are-the-roles-ever-reversed/607113/8 "2011-12-22T20:59:00Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > [Betty Garrett & Red Skelton](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHYqKEAehPU) > > This paralleled the Ricardo Montalban (wolf) and Esther Williams (lamb) [version](http://www.viddler.com/explore/ramperto/videos/1/) in the same movie (Neptune’s Daughter). According to the remarks on the youtube link, this movie was the first time the song was recorded (the writer and his wife had previously sung it at private parties only). If so, that means the first time the roles “got reversed” was - as soon as it got recorded 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Chef\_Troy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Chef\_Troy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chef_Troy)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-song-baby-its-cold-outside-are-the-roles-ever-reversed/607113/9 "2011-12-22T21:38:04Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > I heard the roles reversed on the radio recently. The woman was Zoe Deschanel, I think but I don’t remember the man’s name. I only remember Zoe because she sang the other, traditional part in _Elf_. The guy is M. Ward – he’s the “him” in She and Him (Zooey being the “she,” of course). they just put out a Xmas album, and B.I.C.O. is on it. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-song-baby-its-cold-outside-are-the-roles-ever-reversed/607113/10 "2011-12-22T23:00:31Z")
Somehow the Date Rape Christmas Song loses something when the roles are reverse. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-song-baby-its-cold-outside-are-the-roles-ever-reversed/607113/11 "2011-12-22T23:14:44Z")
[Earlier related thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=543625) ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-song-baby-its-cold-outside-are-the-roles-ever-reversed/607113/12 "2011-12-22T23:53:41Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > There’s also a Glee version with two men singing the parts. We’ve done that a couple of times. ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-song-baby-its-cold-outside-are-the-roles-ever-reversed/607113/13 "2011-12-23T00:45:48Z")
Not really what you’re looking for, but there’s also a completely different song, ‘Cold Outside’ by the country band Big House, where the guy singing is outside and trying to get a girl to let him in. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-song-baby-its-cold-outside-are-the-roles-ever-reversed/607113/14 "2011-12-23T02:18:57Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > There’s also a Glee version with two men singing the parts. I like the vocals on that one but can’t stand [the video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgdLdl60EMA). I can’t explain why I find it oddly repulsive, but I think it’s Kurt’s movements; I keep expecting him to spray Blaine and assume a feline sexual position. (Reminder that I’m gay and would gladly pay for a lap dance from either of them, so it’s not homophobia, just “ewwww” to the choreography.) Plus this is when Blaine was still the harvest god of Dalton and it’s clear he is about to go feed, so bloodshed is imminent. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-song-baby-its-cold-outside-are-the-roles-ever-reversed/607113/15 "2011-12-23T02:39:27Z")
I can’t stand Kurt. Everyone I know says I should watch it and I know it’s because they see Kurt and think of me and I just want him to go away and stop getting drama over everything. ---
**Author:** ![bldysabba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@bldysabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bldysabba)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-song-baby-its-cold-outside-are-the-roles-ever-reversed/607113/16 "2011-12-23T07:30:21Z")
I’ve heard an Ella Fitzgerald version, I _think_ the roles are reversed in that, but I could be wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-song-baby-its-cold-outside-are-the-roles-ever-reversed/607113/17 "2011-12-23T15:45:44Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Somehow the Date Rape Christmas Song loses something when the roles are reverse. I think this song gets a bad rap. It’s fun and romantic. The whole point is the woman has decided to stay before the song even starts. The rest is just flirting. ---
**Author:** ![dinahmoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8797f3/32.png) [@dinahmoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dinahmoe)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-song-baby-its-cold-outside-are-the-roles-ever-reversed/607113/18 "2011-12-24T00:06:04Z")
In the Liza Minelli/Alan Cumming version, the roles reverse about halfway through the song. Liza is surprised to find that she has a new apartment. It’s adorable. ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-song-baby-its-cold-outside-are-the-roles-ever-reversed/607113/19 "2011-12-24T02:01:41Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > I think this song gets a bad rap. It’s fun and romantic. The whole point is the woman has decided to stay before the song even starts. The rest is just flirting. I agree. I don’t think it’s fair to read it without remembering the time it was written. She clearly wants to stay, and is worried about her reputation if she does. It was just different back then; playing hard to get was expected because “good girls” didn’t give it up without a fight. I think it’s a cute song, and a good reminder of how far we’ve come. Thank goodness! ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-song-baby-its-cold-outside-are-the-roles-ever-reversed/607113/20 "2011-12-24T04:21:19Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > I think this song gets a bad rap. It’s fun and romantic. The whole point is the woman has decided to stay before the song even starts. The rest is just flirting. It’s that “what’s in this drink” line that makes it seem creepy to me. I agree that the rest is flirting or playing hard to get. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-song-baby-its-cold-outside-are-the-roles-ever-reversed/607113.md?page=2)