Original Lyrics:
I really can’t stay (but baby, it’s cold outside) I’ve got to go away (but baby, it’s cold outside)
This evening has been (been hoping that you’d drop in)
So very nice (i’ll hold your hands, they’re just like ice)
My mother will start to worry (beautiful what’s your hurry?)
My father will be pacing the floor (listen to the fireplace roar)
So really I’d better scurry (beautiful please don’t hurry)
But maybe just a half a drink more (put some records on while I pour)
The neighbors might think (baby, it’s bad out there)
Say what’s in this drink? (no cabs to be had out there)
I wish I knew how (your eyes are like starlight now)
To break this spell (i’ll take your hat, your hair looks swell)
I ought to say, no, no, no sir (mind if I move in closer?)
At least I’m gonna say that I tried (what’s the sense in hurtin’ my pride?)
I really can’t stay (oh baby don’t hold out)
But baby, it’s cold outside
I simply must go (but baby, it’s cold outside)
The answer is no (but baby, it’s cold outside)
Your welcome has been(how lucky that you dropped in)
So nice and warm (look out the window at this dawn)
My sister will be suspicious (gosh your lips look delicious)
My brother will be there at the door (waves upon the tropical shore)
My maiden aunts mind is vicious (gosh your lips are delicious)
But maybe just a cigarette more (never such a blizzard before)
I’ve gotta get home(but baby, you’d freeze out there)
Say lend me a coat(it’s up to your knees out there)
You’ve really been grand (i thrill when you touch my hand)
But don’t you see? (how can you do this thing to me?)
There’s bound to be talk tomorrow (think of my lifelong sorrow)
At least there will be plenty implied (if you got pnuemonia and died)
I really can’t stay (get over that old out)
Baby, it’s cold
Baby, it’s cold outside
Found Poem:
I really can’t stay, I’ve got to go away.
This evening has been, so very nice. Beautiful, you hurry home
My father will be pacing the floor, so really I’d better scurry
Beautiful please do hurry
But maybe just a half a drink more
Beautiful, you hurry home, it’s bad out there
But baby, it’s cold out there
You simply must go, I’ll get you a cab. You’d freeze out there, I’ll lend you a coat
You’ve really been grand, I’ll see you and talk tomorrow
Artist’s Statement:
For my found poem, I used the song “Baby It’s Cold Outside”. This song has always made me feel uncomfortable, but it wasn’t until a few years ago that I realized it was a song about sexual assault. Just for a brief understanding, this song is about a girl, who seems to be young, mentioning her parents; with a man. As she tells him she must get home, he tries to convince her to stay by stating that it is cold outside, offering her more to drink, possibly drugging the drink, and kissing her. I cut a lot from this song, mainly the male’s parts, to try and make this song about a girl who must go home, and a man agreeing, and helping her out. I rearranged some of the words in order to form completely new lines for the man to show that he is trying to get the girl home. For the women’s perspective, seeing how in the original song she was drunk and he was convincing her to stay, I decided to have the women complain about the cold, but show the man doing the responsible and respectful thing by calling her a cab to get her home. The spacing I used was to differentiate the speaker, alternating between the male and female. I thought that it was very important to keep two speakers in this poem because it shows diversity in the language and still keeps a storytelling base. As I was working on the poem, all I was thinking is how creepy the original artist was, and just how I could change this to make it more of a lesson, showing what the right thing to do in that situation would be. I learned from this that when taking words in context, if you don’t like what it says, then change the context
