Baby, It’s Cold Outside — Reimagined for a New Era ❄️💬 Once hailed as a flirty holiday favorite, “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” has long sparked conversations for its blurred lines around consent and dated gender dynamics. Now, in a bold and thoughtful update, Tom Jones and Cerys Matthews’ iconic version has been rewritten to reflect mutual respect and clarity—without losing the cozy, romantic charm that made it a winter classic. Gone are the suggestive or ambiguous lines. In their place? Warm, respectful dialogue, where both voices are clearly on the same page. The new rendition manages to stay true to the song’s essence—playful, intimate, and charming—but does so in a way that feels right for today’s audience. Whether you’ve always loved the original or found it problematic, this side-by-side performance gives you a chance to see how a timeless tune can evolve without losing its magic.
Tom Jones and Cerys Matthews
Baby, It’s Cold Outside has become a favourite Christmas song since it first came out in 1944, even though it doesn’t even mention the festive season.
It was written by Frank Loesser and over the years it’s been covered by the likes of Ray Charles and Betty Carter, Rod Stewart and Dolly Parton and Wales’ own Tom Jones and Cerys Matthews covered it in 1999.
But have you ever listened to the lyrics carefully?
It’s always been considered be be a duet which sees the male voice attempt to get the woman to stay for a cosy night in.
But while some lines could be seen as seductive, they have been criticised for sounding creepy.
It starts off with lyrics like: “My mother will start to worry (beautiful what’s your hurry?)”
It progressively becomes more persuasive and then there’s the line “Say what’s in this drink?” implying something isn’t quite right and she has possibly been spiked.
And “I ought to say, no, no, no sir (mind if I move in closer?)”
Watch Cerys Matthews and Tom Jones in action
So one couple have decided to confront the way it seems to deal with consent with a new cover of the track.
Minneapolis singer-songwriters Lydia Liza and Josiah Lemansk have changed the lyrics to emphasise the importance of consent.
Speaking to CNN, Josiah Lemansk, 25, said: “I’ve always had a big problem with the song. It’s so aggressive and inappropriate.
Lydia, 22, agreed with him.
She said: “We started thinking of the open-ended questions that song has,” she said. “You never figure out if she gets to go home. You never figure out if there was something in her drink. It just leaves you with a bad taste in your mouth.”
The resulting song keeps the melody but the lyrics are different.
Have a listen to the new version
Here are some of the lyrics to both versions next to each other
Original version: I really can’t stay/but baby, it’s cold outside
New version: I really can’t stay/Baby I’m fine with that
Original version: This evening has been/Been hoping that you’d drop in
New version: This evening has been/Been hoping you get home safe
Original version: So very nice/I’ll hold your hands, they’re just like ice
New version: So very nice/I’m glad you had a real good time
