Standard (EADGBE)

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