It’s not a date rape song. There’s no date rape drug in the drink. The discussion in this thread will help put it into perspective (posts # 4, 5, 22, 23, 25, 34, 66, & 72).
Dude, modern sensibilities change and songs that were appropriate at one time sometimes lose their luster among various groups and part of being an adult is recognizing that if someone says they find something creepy, your job is not to yammer at them about how they’re wrong about it being creepy.
Now, I personally find Baby, It’s Cold Outside to be a hot or cold song for me and the line ‘Say, what’s in this drink’ is a big part of that. Singers who say it with what sounds like genuine surprise and concern turn me off because now the guy us a lecherous dick who spikes his date’s drinks. But if the line is said with a salacious tone where it’s clear that the singer is not concerned about the content of the toddy, then I can go back to enjoying the back and forth. But, let’s not kid ourselves, that song was written at a time when women did not have the same amount of authority to say No as they do today and many women endured sexual harassment and unwanted attentions because men simply didn’t care and this song could be seen as emblematic of societal mores that negatively affected women and their view of the right to their own bodies.
The other day, my workplace held a Christmas party for us at lunch time. The entertainment consisted of the son (early 20s) of one of the employees, playing the guitar and singing Christmas songs. One of them was “Baby It’s cold outside,” but with the roles reversed, and no female voice. The guy was the one being convinced to stay, and expressing his concerns to an (unheard) female.
I am aware that the song was written before one needed to be concerned about roofies, but alcohol is the original date rape drug and while the character knows s/he is getting a hard drink the song certainly suggests that s/he is getting more than s/he expected. Although as Inner Stickler says, the delivery of the relevant lines makes a big difference.
Hey - I’ve LIVED this song. “Well, I’ve got to drive home now, get ready for work tomorrow.” “But look, it’s starting to snow! Stay here tonight, have another drink.” “I can’t, I have to go home now.” “But it’s getting dark - look at it coming down - sit down, have another drink.” “I better get going, I have to leave for work early tomorrow.” "But - but - " Etc. Etc. Etc. Jesus, give it up, I’m LEAVING, no matter how much you want us to get drunk and screw!
CMA Christmas Special last week with Miss Piggy & Vince Gill. His lines had much to do about wife Amy Grant being worried. Cute in theory. Unsettling in execution the moment you think about how Vince & Amy got together.