<P> "Baby, It's Cold Outside" is a song written by Frank Loesser in 1944 . It is a call and response duet in which a host (usually performed by a male voice) attempts to convince a guest (usually performed by a female voice) that she should stay the evening because the weather is cold and the trip home would be difficult . </P> <P> Loesser originally created it to sing with his wife, Lynn Garland, as a private performance for their friends . It was later recorded for the film Neptune's Daughter, it has been recorded by many artists since its original release, including Ray Charles, Dolly Parton and Michael Bublé . </P> <P> Loesser wrote the duet in 1944 and premiered the song with his wife, Lynn Garland, at their Navarro Hotel in New York housewarming party, and performed it toward the end of the evening, signifying to guests that it was nearly time to end the party . Loesser would introduce himself as the "Evil of Two Loessers", a play on the theme of the song, trying to keep the girl from leaving, and on the phrase "lesser of two evils". This was a period when the Hollywood elite's chief entertainment was throwing parties and inviting guests who were expected to perform . Garland wrote that after the first performance, "We become instant parlor room stars . We got invited to all the best parties for years on the basis of' Baby .' It was our ticket to caviar and truffles . Parties were built around our being the closing act ." Garland considered it their song and was furious when Loesser told her he was selling the song . Garland wrote, "I felt as betrayed as if I'd caught him in bed with another woman ." </P> <P> The lyrics in this duet are designed to be heard as a conversation between two people, identified as "mouse" (usually female) and "wolf" (usually male) on the printed score; they are at the wolf's home and the mouse decides it is time to go home, but the wolf flirtatiously invites the mouse to stay as it is late and "it's cold outside ." The mouse states that he / she has enjoyed the time and agrees at one point to another drink, but the mouse also says "the answer is no" and tries to return home, worried what family and neighbors will think . Every line in the song features a statement from the mouse followed by a response from the wolf, which is musically known as a call and response song . </P>

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