It's been incredibly cold outside in Ohio this past week, which has made me think of cold weather songs. Frank Loesser's immortal "Baby, It's Cold Outside," seemed an obvious choice, particularly with Ricardo Montalban's death on Wednesday. While originally performed privately, Loesser apparently sold the rights to MGM for use in the film, Neptune's Daughter, in which it was performed by Montalban and Esther Williams, and again by Red Skelton and Betty Garrett. It's been used in several films and performed by everyone from Ray Charles to James Taylor to Jessica Simpson since. Here's a taste of the lyrics:

I simply must go - Baby, it's cold outside
The answer is no - Oh baby, it's cold outside
This welcome has been - I'm lucky that you dropped in
So nice and warm - Look out the window at that storm
My sister will be suspicious - Please but your lips look so delicious
My brother will be there at the door - Waves upon a tropical shore
My maiden aunt's mind is vicious - Oh but your lips look delicious
Well maybe just a half a drink more - Never such a blizzard before

Here are the full lyrics (as sung by Lee Ann Womack). Here's a video of the Montalban-Williams performance, as well as a more recent film version.