Like mince pies and mistletoe, it's becoming a Christmas tradition to argue about the lyrics of Baby, It's Cold Outside - one of the most enduringly popular and controversial tunes in music history.

To its critics, Baby, It's Cold Outside is about a man pressuring an unwilling woman into staying the night. "Say what's in this drink? (No cabs to be had out there)," goes a line which could have connotationsWhen a word or object suggests another idea. of date rapeThe line could be taken to suggest that he has put something in her drink to make her more susceptible to his advances. On the other hand, she may be joking about it to make an excuse for her attraction..

But US singers John Legend and Kelly Clarkson have given the song a wokeAwareness of injustice in society, particularly related to sexism and racism. re-write for the #MeTooThe movement began following allegations against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. Weinstein was found guilty of sexual assault in 2020. era. In a cover interview with Vanity Fair, Legend said he has given the song a "newfound sensitivity".

Lines from the new lyrics include: "What will my friends think? (I think they should rejoice) If I have one more drink? (It's your body, and your choice)."

But are their efforts commendableDeserving praise. or cringe-worthy? Opinion is split.

"I support the #MeToo movement, but this is taking political correctnessThe criticism and removal of speech and other things that oppress marginalised groups. to a ridiculous extreme," wrote one music fan on Twitter.

Others dispute that the song is problematic at all, with Chris Willman arguing in Variety that the song's flirtatious, wryDrily witty. tone amounts to "a witty, ahead-of-its-time avowalDeclaring something that you believe. of women owning their own sexual agencyIndependence; free will.."

Written by Frank Loesser in 1944, Baby, It's Cold Outside won an Oscar for Best Original Song in the 1949 film Neptune's Daughter.

Since then, the Christmas classic has been covered by mega-star pairings like Michael Buble and Idina Menzel; Cerys Matthews and Tom Jones, and Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo Green.

Baby, It's Cold Outside is far from the only Christmas song to fall foul of 21st-century morality.

The Fairytale of New York, sung by Shane McGowan and Kirsty MacColl, has been called out for including a homophobic slur.

And, last year, US academic Kyna Hammill was harassed on social media for her article about the racist origins of children's favourite, Jingle Bells.

"I was told that I was trying to ruin Christmas for children who weren't allowed to sing the song anymore," she complained.

Not according to Glenn Anderson, whose Ohio radio station refused to play the song last year. While he concedes that 1944 was "a different time", "in a world where #MeToo has finally given women the voice they deserve, the song has no place". These outdated perspectives on gender, race or sexuality are uncomfortable and harmful; they have no place today.

But these re-writes put wokeness at-all-costs ahead of the charm and wit that made the song so beloved in the first place. The new lyrics are excruciating. As Jessica Goddard writes for CBC: "Nothing says 'happy holidays' like the death of nuanceWhen an issue has fine distinctions; is subtle. and frantic institutional overreaction." By erasing or re-writing these songs, we're failing to engage with the thorny, challenging conversations they could spark today.

Connotations - When a word or object suggests another idea.

Date rape - The line could be taken to suggest that he has put something in her drink to make her more susceptible to his advances. On the other hand, she may be joking about it to make an excuse for her attraction.

Woke - Awareness of injustice in society, particularly related to sexism and racism.

#MeToo - The movement began following allegations against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. Weinstein was found guilty of sexual assault in 2020.

Commendable - Deserving praise.

Political correctness - The criticism and removal of speech and other things that oppress marginalised groups.

Wry - Drily witty.

Avowal - Declaring something that you believe.

Agency - Independence; free will.

Nuance - When an issue has fine distinctions; is subtle.