"Baby It's Cold Outside" Reveals Reactionary Behaviors Of Some Catholics

While it may seem like I'm beating a dead horse with continued discussion about the 1940s song "Baby It's Cold Outside", I think this controversy has laid bare some problems in the thinking (or maybe more accurately non-thinking) in which some good people - even Catholics - are engaging.

Let me link to previous posts: here and here.  Now here's an article in which the author appears to take pride in his mindlessness.  Notice this sentence: "In fact, I never really cared for the song, Baby it’s Cold Outside, but now I do, and I’ll request it wherever I am and play it as often and as loudly as I can."

 He is defending the song, not on its own merits, but simply because some leftists oppose it. In other words, he is taking his cues from them as opposed to his own independent ideas about the song. He goes so far as to call it "the greatest Christmas song" when the the word "Christmas" is mentioned not once in it, let alone any mention of the birth of Jesus Christ. Is this the sort of brainlessness that Catholics should adopt?

Many leftists describe us conservatives as knuckle-dragging neanderthals who only know how to react and who have no cogent reasons or basis for their actions.  Sadly, the conduct of many conservatives in this matter serves only to justify such stereotypes.

More importantly, many Catholics are embracing this song simply because some leftists oppose it.  This is actually a rather serious problem, since the lyrics of "Baby It's Cold Outside" depict the back-and-forth between a man and a woman who are not married to each other.  These lyrics depict the man trying to seduce her into the mortal sin of fornication, with the woman wavering in her own convictions.  Some leftists complain of the implications of date rape in the song.  Regrettably, the line "say what's in this drink" shows their complaint to have some basis.  At the very least, the man and woman are teetering close to the mortal sin of fornication.

Appallingly enough, some Catholics are in denial of what the lyrics are saying.  They want to approve of the song simply out of a knee-jerk reaction to the leftists' claim of date-rape, so they are willing to deny the other sinful implications of the song.  If these are the mental contortions in which they'll engage with this song, will there be other scenarios in which they will jettison their sense of Catholic morality?

The Strange Defense Of Baby It's Cold Outside

A radio station recently announced its decision to ban "Baby It's Cold Outside" from its airwaves.  It cites its allegiance to the #metoo movement as its reasons.  Immediately the whining and kvelling commenced, with most complaining that the station simply is kowtowing to politically correct sentiments.  They mock the notion that "baby" promotes date-rape - although the lyrics lend credence to that allegation.

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.

Christmas Music - Caution Is In Order

If you've gone into shopping centers these past few weeks, you've undoubtedly noticed music with Christmas-related themes.  In fact you might have noticed that if you've been in the malls anytime after Halloween.  We heard Silent Night, O Holy Night, Joy to the World, etc.  Of course public schools have exerted all kinds of efforts to expunge any mention of Christ from His own birthday.  The stores, though secular, aren't that stupid; they understand that this music often induces purchases at their stores.

Much of the music is indeed uplifting, such as the carols listed above.  But others, not so much.  Along with the music that does explicitly mention the Birth of Christ, there are other songs, popularly associated with Christmas, that simply talk of winter-themed pleasantries.  I have in mind songs such as Jingle Bells, Sleigh Ride, Deck the Halls, etc.  While these songs, in and of themselves, are harmless enough, their inclusion in the ranks of true Christmas Carols tends to adulterate the true focus of Christmas.

I mention this because I do hear among people genuine concern about the commercialization of Christmas and the loss of focus on its meaning.  Yet many of these same folks will insist that "White Christmas" is a true Christmas carol, right up there with Lo How A Rose E'er Blooming.  They believe that the loss of the sense of Christmas is a relatively recent phenomenon but I think it goes back a lot longer than that - and I mean like 70 years ago at least.  The "harmless" songs I mentioned are a clear indication of the distractions that have been allowed to worm their ways into our culture.

But I daresay there have been some "not-so-harmless" influences that have corroded our understanding of Christmas.  There are two songs that I have in mind.  How on earth any right-thinking Christian can consider these authentic "Christmas music" boggles my mind.  In fact, any decent society would have relegated these to the trash.  The first one is called "Santa Baby", made (in)famous by Eartha Kitt in 1953.  I will not dignify this by linking to it. I'm sure many can remember it and why I say that it is chock full of vulgar innuendos.  It was my understanding that radio stations back then were a bit more discerning about the morality of music played on their stations; obviously I was mistaken.

The other was released about five years prior to "Santa Baby".  It's called "Baby It's Cold Outside".  It is a man-woman duet, performed by many singers over the years and it was included in a movie.  I cannot even fathom how it's considered "Christmas music".  "Santa Baby" does mention Santa so I get that connection.  All "baby" does is mention some cold weather, but I guess that's enough to trigger "Christmas" in some minds.  Now again I won't link to this, but the lyrics reveal a conversation between the man and the woman, where the man is trying to seduce the woman into spending the night at his place and most likely to commit the mortal sin of fornication.  Please tell me - how does any right-thinking Christian equate the seduction into mortal sin with the birth of God Incarnate?  I don't get it!

Many of us see quite clearly how the culture has degraded and become more bestial as it has abandoned its Christian underpinnings and indeed God Himself.  However, we must be honest and realize that the rot started a bit earlier than we might care to admit.  The two songs I just mentioned above, along with the supposedly "Christian" public's initial enjoyment of them, were part and parcel of the corrosion of morality.  I know some will poo-poo this post, telling me to "lighten up".  Well, first - let's wise up, shall we?  When we're exhorted by Scripture to "always keep watch", that passage means what it says, with the operative word being "always".

We've heard of "custody of the eyes".  I suspect we need to practice some "custody of the ears" as well.  In the next post I'll put up a Vortex that exposes the heresy in a contemporary "Christmas" song that is quite the hit in "Christiian pop" culture.