THE SNAKE
(Oscar Brown Jr.)

Al Wilson

Also recorded by:
Belle Stars; Oscar Brown Jr.; 
The Mint Juleps; Johnny Rivers; Paula West.



On her way to work one morning
Down the path along side the lake
A tender hearted woman saw a poor half frozen snake
His pretty colored skin had been all frosted with the dew
"Poor thing," she cried, "I'll take you in and I'll take care of you"
"Take me in tender woman
Take me in, for heaven's sake
Take me in, tender woman," sighed the snake

She wrapped him all cozy in a comforter of silk
And laid him by her fireside with some honey and some milk 
She hurried home from work that night and soon as she arrived 
She found that pretty snake she'd taken to had bee revived
"Take me in, tender woman 
Take me in, for heaven's sake
Take me in, tender woman," sighed the snake

She clutched him to her bosom, "You're so beautiful," she cried
"But if I hadn't brought you in by now you might have died"
She stroked his pretty skin again and kissed and held him tight 
Instead of saying thanks, the snake gave her a vicious bite
"Take me in, tender woman 
Take me in, for heaven's sake
Take me in, tender woman," sighed the snake
"I saved you," cried the woman
"And you've bitten me, but why?
You know your bite is poisonous and now I'm going to die"
"Oh shut up, silly woman," said the reptile with a grin 
"You knew damn well I was a snake before you took me in 
"Take me in, tender woman 
Take me in, for heaven's sake
Take me in, tender woman," sighed the snake

version II

On her way to work one morning
Down the path along side the lake
A tender hearted woman saw a poor half frozen snake
His pretty colored skin had been all frosted with the dew
"Oh well," she cried, "I'll take you in and I'll take care of you"
"Take me in tender woman
Take me in, for heaven's sake
Take me in, tender woman," sighed the snake


Now she wrapped him all cozy in a coverture of silk
And then laid him by the fireside with some honey and some milk 
Now she hurried home from work that night as soon as she arrived 
She found that pretty snake she'd taken to had been revived
"Take me in, oh tender woman 
Take me in, for heaven's sake
Take me in, tender woman," sighed the snake


She clutched him to her bosom, "You're so beautiful," she cried
"But if I hadn't brought you in, by now you might have died"
Now she stroked his pretty skin again and then kissed and held him tight 
But instead of saying thanks, the snake gave her a vicious bite!
"Take me in, oh tender woman 
Take me in for heaven's sake
Take me in, tender woman," sighed the snake
"Now I saved you," cried the woman
And you've bit me, even why?
And you know your bite is poisonous and now I'm going to die"
"Ah shut up, silly woman," said that reptile with a grin 
“Now you knew darn well I was a snake before you brought me in 
Please, take me in, oh tender woman 
Take me in, for heaven's sake
Take me in, tender woman," sighed the snake, sighed the snake 
“Take me in tender woman
“Come on in you pretty snake…
Come on in, yeah, come on in you pretty snake…










(Contributed by Gary House - August 2007)