On her way to work one morning, down the path alongside the lake
A tender-hearted woman saw a poor, half-frozen snake
Its pretty coloured skin had been all frosted up with dew
'Oh wow' 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 tender woman, yeah
'Cos I'm the snake

She wrapped him up all cozy in a comforter of silk
And she laid him by the fire-side with some honey and some milk
She hurried home from work that night and 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 tender woman, yeah
'Cos I'm the snake

She clutched him to her bosom, 'You're so beautiful!' she cried
'But if I had not a-taken you in, by now you would have died'
She stroked his pretty skin again and kissed and held him tight
But instead of giving her the thanks, he gave her a vicious bite

Take me in, oh tender woman
Take me in, for heaven's sake
Take me in tender woman, yeah,
'Cos I'm the snake

'Oh snake, you' cried that woman 'you have bitten me, but why?
You know your body's poisonous and now I'm gonna die'
'Ah, shut up silly woman' said that reptile with a grin
'You knew I was a snake before you ever took me in'

Take me in, oh tender woman
Take me in for heaven's sake
Take me in tender woman
'Cos I'm the snake
'Cos I'm the snake