Lyrics
On her way to work one morning
Describes the setting, a woman on her way to work in the morning.
Down the path alongside the lake
Specifies the path alongside the lake where the woman encounters something.
A tender-hearted woman saw a poor half-frozen snake
Introduces the woman as compassionate, finding a half-frozen snake.
His pretty colored skin had been all frosted with the dew
Details the snake's condition, with its colored skin frosted with dew.
"Oh well," she cried, "I'll take you in and I'll take care of you"
The woman decides to take the snake in and care for it despite its state.
"Take me in, oh, tender woman (yes, come on in)
The snake pleads to be taken in, emphasizing the woman's tenderness.
Take me in, for heaven's sake (yes, come on in)
-Take me in, tender woman," sighed the snake
-Now she wrapped him up all cozy in a coverture of silk
The woman nurtures the snake with a cozy covering, honey, and milk.
And laid him by the fireside with some honey and some milk
-Now she hurried home from work that night, as soon she arrived
Returning home, she discovers the snake revived.
Now she found that pretty snake she'd taken in had been revived
-"Take me in, oh, tender woman (yes, come on in)
The snake repeats its plea for the woman to take it in.
Take me in, for heaven's sake (yes, come on in)
-Take me in, tender woman," sighed the snake
-Now she clutched him to her bosom, "You're so beautiful," she cried
The woman expresses admiration for the snake, but it bites her instead of showing gratitude.
"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, that snake gave her a vicious bite (ooh)
-"Take me in, oh, tender woman (yes, come on in)
The snake repeats its plea despite biting the woman.
Take me in, for heaven's sake (yes, come on in)
-Take me in, tender woman," sighed the snake
-"I saved you," cried that woman
The woman questions why the snake bit her, knowing it's poisonous. The snake dismisses her concern, stating she knew its nature.
"And you've bitten me, even why?
-And you know your bite is poisonous and now I'm gonna die"
-"Oh, 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 (yes, come on in)
The snake repeats its plea once again.
Take me in, for heaven's sake (yes, come on in)
-Take me in, tender woman," sighed the snake
-Sighed the snake
Reiterates the snake's sigh, emphasizing its unchanging nature.
Take me in tender woman
The snake asks to be taken in once more.
(Come on in you pretty snake, come on in)
Repetition of the snake's plea and the woman's invitation, highlighting a cycle of deceit and betrayal.
Snake, snake (yeah, come on in you pretty snake)
-Take me in, tender woman (come on in, yeah, yeah, yeah)
-Snake (come on in yeah, yeah, yeah)
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