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 oh tender woman
Take me in for Heaven’s sake
Take me in oh tender woman
Sighed the snake
She wrapped him up 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 in had been revived
Take me in oh tender woman
Take me in for Heaven’s sake
Take me in oh tender woman
Sighed the snake
Now 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
And then she kissed and held him tight
But instead of saying thanks
That snake gave her a vicious bite
Take me in oh tender woman
Take me in for Heaven’s sake
Take me in oh tender woman
Sighed the snake
«I saved you», cried the woman
«And you’ve bit me even, why?
You know your bite is poisonous
And now I’m gonna die»
«Oh shut up, silly woman»,
Said the reptile with a grin,
«You knew damned well I was a snake
Before you took me in».
Take me in oh tender woman
Take me in for Heaven’s sake
Take me in oh tender woman
Sighed the snake