Re: leo/SANTA
Yes, absolutely, the context is everything. Like you say, at the time it was released it would be unlady-like for her to stay with a man, but oh no, there's a terrible storm so maybe she should. But I think most people hearing it for the first time now are going to go for her making excuses and him ignoring them all. Which is so sad.
I was trying to imagine if the genders were reversed and how it would read/hear then. And I kind of think again the context- like today it's almost the same kind of scenario as the original, except without being unlady like. Like, he wants to stay but knows he shouldn't but they're both making excuses as to why he should. Yet back then, if the genders were reversed, it would be ludicrous to think he wouldn't just do whatever he wanted.
I very much prefer the 'well I tried to leave but it was just terrible weather and it was safer to stay' reading. The illicit time won together because of the storm.