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
"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 all cozy in a comforter of silk
And laid him by her 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 to had bee 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
Take me in, tender woman," sighed the snake
"I saved you," cried the woman
"And you've bitten me, but 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, tender woman
Take me in, for heaven's sake
Take me in, tender woman," sighed the snake
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
"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
And laid him by her 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 to had bee revived
"Take me in, tender woman
Take me in, for heaven's sake
Take me in, tender woman," sighed the snake
"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
Take me in, tender woman," sighed the snake
"I saved you," cried the woman
"And you've bitten me, but 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, tender woman
Take me in, for heaven's sake
Take me in, tender woman," sighed the snake
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
Definitely one of my favourite Northern Soul tracks. I like the metaphor with the snake too.
Yep, it's a metaphor. The "snake" is not reptilian, but human -- in a way. It is a song about an abusive or unfaithful partner. This woman with a gentle heart meets a good-looking fellow who's in some sort of bad way. She helps him out, they fall in love, and as soon as the man gets his life in order, he does something to hurt Lady Gentleheart, (abuses her, cheats on her) then justifies it by saying she knew he was the way he was when the relationship started
A pretty straight retelling of one of Aesop's Fables ,which my daughter has been recently reading - The Farmer and the Snake.
A pretty straight retelling of one of Aesop's fables, which my daughter has been reading recently - the Farmer and the Snake.
I have a version with Shivaree singing. She sings these lyrics absolutely beautifully. Such smooth voice. Lovely.
Mostly self explanatory. Betrayal, sad. Kindness is not always repaid. And sometimes you can't expect gratitude.
This is my karaoke song :P
Always loved it ha