Zooey Deschanel actress and recent M. Ward singing sidekick (of She & Him fame)
The male part is sang by the ever mysterious and always amazing Leon Redbone (I've seen him twice in concert, both times he was fan-tas-tic!)
Because both Zooey and Leon have these smooth quirky voices I've never really paid much attention to the lyrics of the song. Than as I was passing through the faculty lounge today I caught a different version of the song, and in particular a very specific line from one of the verses. I typed the female part in pinkish-red and the male part in greenis-yellow (sorta Christmas colors) so you can get the full effect of the song. It goes a little something like this...
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
To break the spell - I'll take your hat, your hair looks swell
I ought to say no, no, no, sir - Mind if I move closer
At least I'm gonna say that I tried - What's the sense in hurting my pride?
...I don't mean to sound like a cynic but this sounds like a date rape waiting to happen. How in the world did this song become a holiday classic? I'll tell you what he put in your drink Zooey, it's rufies...
I hate the hit-parade writers for ruining this Christmas gem for me. I'll never be able to listen to it again without the image of Mr. Redbone's lecherious smile and Zooey's bright eye'd innocent face going limp from the sedative dropped in her cocoa. At least there are some songs that maintain their Christmas integrity, like "Santa Baby".
