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