On her way to work a-one mornin',
a-Down the path along side the lake,
A tender-hearted a-woman,

Saw a poor half-frozen snake.
a-His pretty colored skin,
Had been all frosted a-with the dew,

"Oh well," she cried, "I'll take you in,"
"And a-I'll take care of you."
"Take me in, (yesss) oh, tender woman,

(Come on in.)
Take me in, (yesss) for heaven's sake,
(Come on in.)

Take me in, tender woman,"
(Ooo-ooo,) sssighed the snake.


Now, she wrapped him up all cozy,
In a curvature of silk.
And then laid him by the fireside,

With some honey and some milk.
Now she a-hurried home from a-work that night,
As soon as she arrived,

a-She found that pretty snake,
She'd taken in had been revived.
"Take me in, (yesss) oh, tender woman,

(Come on in.)
Take me in, (yesss) for heaven's sake,
(Come on in.)

Take me in, tender woman,"
(Ooo-ooo,) sssighed the snake.
(Ooooooo.)


Now, she a-clutched him to her bosom,
"You're so beautiful," she cried.

"But if I hadn't a-brought you in,
By now you might have died."
Now she stroked his a-pretty skin again,

And then kissed and held him tight.
But instead of saying, "Thanks,"
That snake gave a-her a vicious bite.

(Oooo!)
"Take me in, (yesss) oh, tender woman,
(Come on in.)

Take me in, (yesss) for heaven's sake,
(Come on in.)
Take me in, tender woman,"

(Ooo-ooo,) sssighed the snake.
(Ooooooo.)


"Now, I saved you," cried that a-woman,
"And you bit me even. a-Why?
And you know your bite is poisonous,

And now I'm gonna die."
"Aw, shut up, silly woman,"
Said that a-reptile, with a grin.

"Now, you knew damn well I was a snake,
Before you brought me in.
"Please, take me in, (yesss) oh, tender woman,

(Come on in.)
Take me in, (yesss) for heaven's sake,
(Come on in.)

Take me in, tender woman,"
(Ooo-ooo,) sssighed the snake.
(Ooo-ooo-ooo)


(Ooo-ooo-ooo)
Sssighed the snake.

(Ooo-ooo-ooo)
[Fade.]
Take me in tender woman.

(Come on in you purty snake.)
Sssnake.
(Come on in.)

Sssnake.
(Yeah, come on in you purty snake.)
Snake.

Take me in, take me in...