On her way to work one morning

Down the path along side 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 workthat night as soon as she arrived 

She found that pretty snake she'd taking 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