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 Poor thing, 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 coverture of silk And she laid him by the fireside with some honey and some milk She hurried home from work that night As soon as she'd 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, the snake gave her a vicious bite Take me in, tender woman, take me in, for Heaven's sake Won't you take me in, tender woman? Sighed the snake Well, I saved you cried the woman: And you've bitten me, but why? 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 Won't you take me in, tender woman? Sighed the snake