The SnakeThis song was written by the mightily talented, if scarcely remembered, Oscar Brown Jr., a native of my home town, Chicago. I first heard it in the early sixties when it's mythic storytelling quality and earthily dramatic, contageously rhythmic mix of jazz, soul and pop elements made it compelling listening. Hadn't thought about the song or remembered it for decades, 'til I stumbled on Johnny Rivers' version on a recent expedition through YouTube.
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When I played an acoustic version for my daughter on a whim, her response delighted me: she told me that, though she was not familiar with the song, she was familiar with the story told in the song (a story which has been amusingly and insightfully told across, no doubt, a number of different cultures.) Though she knew in advance how the story turned out, as I sang the song she kept hoping it would somehow conclude differently, thus ending up feeling exactly like the disappointedly compassionate lady of the song! In this mad world in which we numb and insulate ourselves from the unending assaults on our sensibilities that daily bludgeon us, one of the joys of making music is the power to make anyone actually feel anything; maybe even something interesting or exciting or touching or empathetic. This tune, apparently, has not much diminished in it's power, pointing to a truth we all can recognize. Thank you, Rene, for helping me remember how to tell the story.