On her way to work one morning

Down the path 'longside 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

She wrapped him up all cozy in a comforter of silk

And laid him by the 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 in had been 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, that 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?

And 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 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

"Take me in, tender woman," sighed the snake

"Take me in, tender woman," sighed the snake