On her way to work one morning
Down the path alongside 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 curvature 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 that woman
And you've bit me even, 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, oh tender woman
Take me in, for heaven's sake
Take me in oh tender woman, sighed the snake