What truly baffles me is how many Catholics are defending the song, claiming that:
- It's a Christmas classic (even though Christmas isn't even mentioned)
- The lyrics are silly and harmless, especially compared to today's rap music.
First, let's take a look at the lyrics, and a piece that I wrote about the matter three years ago. As I read the lyrics and notice the line "what's in this drink", I acknowledge the possibility of date rape being implied in this song. Even if it weren't, the singers are flirting - not only with each other but the mortal sin of fornication. Someone attempting to defend the song said "it was written in a sane time when they wouldn't be contemplating sex". Why, oh why, should I accept that theory? He's asking her to stay the night. If nothing else, that constitutes near occasion of mortal sin, does it not?
Others cite the course music of today. Yes, rap is truly raunchy - but did music degrade to its current state only within the past several years? No, it's been a gradual process. Many decades ago, the proverbial envelope was pushed, little by little, to the current dismal state of affairs today. "Baby It's Cold Outside" was a definite push of the envelope. Is that so difficult to understand?
This song isn't worthy of the ears of decent people. It certainly isn't worthy of the defense that Catholics are lending to it. My fellow Catholics, we can - we must - do better than that. There is so much decent, uplifting music to help us dwell on the Birth of Our Lord. That is real Christmas music.
Others cite the course music of today. Yes, rap is truly raunchy - but did music degrade to its current state only within the past several years? No, it's been a gradual process. Many decades ago, the proverbial envelope was pushed, little by little, to the current dismal state of affairs today. "Baby It's Cold Outside" was a definite push of the envelope. Is that so difficult to understand?
This song isn't worthy of the ears of decent people. It certainly isn't worthy of the defense that Catholics are lending to it. My fellow Catholics, we can - we must - do better than that. There is so much decent, uplifting music to help us dwell on the Birth of Our Lord. That is real Christmas music.
Sadly, the salvation of souls does not appear to be very high on our clergy's minds any longer. Instead we are told to focus on immigration, environmental protection, plastic straws, and feelings.
ReplyDeleteMortal sins? Why worry, if everyone is going to heaven!
Oh, I wasn't so much puzzled by the reactions of the clergy, but of some other Catholic bloggers who are also good Catholics.
DeleteIn it's defense it is a bit of a classic. I'm not sure when it was first sung, but I'm guessing the 40's, an era of relative innocence. It is a man and a woman singing it. It is a bit consoling to hear a playful repartee between a man and a woman. Remember when our culture validated men and women as couples, before they were pitted against each other by radical feminism?
ReplyDeleteI never liked the lyrics once I paid attention to them, but half the time I don't know what people are singing. That being said I believe one could say it isn't a lock they are going to spend the night together, just more time than leaving "now". I'd have to really examine the lyrics but, I never thought of it being a sleepover in all the decades I've heard the song.
I'm entirely tired of thought, speech, and culture police. These PC-obsessed people, hypersensitive and frankly annoying, are a real problem. We really need to stop giving them so much power, because power has a way of corrupting. Who elected these busybodies? Are we going to be ruled by the relentlessly outraged? Ugh. We have become a people wandering around looking for the ways we are offended, a real need to be part of the victim class. I find it horrifying.
To me it's clear that the guy is trying to get the woman to spend the night. That is not playful. At least one of them has the mortal sin of fornication in their mind. The 40s might have been innocent in comparison to today, but how did today's cultural rot get started? It didn't happen overnight. It was well underway in the early 20th century. It didn't start completely decadent, but the rot was pushed little by little. I think the "roaring 20s" were a prime example.
DeleteI think it very prudent for us to listen to the lyrics of the songs that we hear. Even if we may not be "paying attention" to them, they are registering in our heads. Along with custody of the eyes we must practice custody of the ears.
As far as the "culture police" goes, I'm not going to defend a song, etc, simply because they oppose it. It would behoove us to examine the issues on their own merit before we, in a "knee-jerk" fashion, take a position simply because it is in opposition to that of the pc crowd. In this case, they do have a point (the broken clock is right at least twice a day).
Yes it is a bad song with scary lyrics advocating date rape... bill cosby would be proud
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