Song Lyric Sunday – “The Snake Song” Billy Gilman

This week Jim Adams has prompted us with choosing songs pertaining to Alligator | Crocodile | Lizard | Snake | Turtle for this week’s Song Lyric Sunday. This week I chose “The Snake Song” by Billy Gilman.

The lyrics are quite quirky! I couldn’t find much about the song.

Written by Bobby Braddock, a native Floridian whose father was a citrus grower in Auburndale, Florida. As a youngster, Braddock learned to play piano and saxophone. He toured with rock and roll bands in Florida and the Southern states in the late 1950’s and 1960’s. He moved to Nashville, Tennessee at the age of 24 to pursue a career in country music. He has written some number one hits for many successful country artists. Too many to list, but he did receive Song of the Year award in 1980 & 1981 by the Country Music Academy for the George Jones classic tune, “He Stopped Loving Her Today” to which Braddock co-wrote the song with Curly Putman.

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Billy Gilman, born William Wendell Gilman III is now 32 years old, became the youngest artist to ever have a top 40 single on the country chart at 11 years old with “One Voice”. “The Snake Song” was on his debut album One Voice which was released on June 20, 2000 by Epic Records. It was certified double platinum in the United States. He has put out a total of 5 albums. In 2016, he auditioned for NBC’s The Voice (U.S. Season 11) singing Adele’s song “When We Were Young” which impressed all four judges. Adam Levine was the first to turn his chair, then Blake Shelton and Miley Cyrus. Alicia Keys turned her chair near the end of the performance. When he introduced himself, Shelton & Cyrus said they recognized him from his childhood career with Shelton mentioning Gilman’s hit “One Voice”. Gilman chose to continue the competition with Adam Levine where he went on to finish runner-up.

I took my daughter to Gilman’s concert in 2000 when he performed as a headliner at the Florida State Fairgrounds. He was just getting over the flu, but came out and performed anyway. We were able to meet him, get photos and get an autograph, taking our chances that he wasn’t contagious. I can’t find the photos, but I can show you the signed CD. It’s a little on the rough side. Can’t believe it’s been 20 years!

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“The Snake Song”

He swallowed a frog and hollered yum-yum
He slid down the hillside and darted his tongue
He entered the garden on this bright moonlight night
Then he stopped in his tracks, it was love at first sight
My skin is black, your skin is green
You dwell in a garden, I live by a stream
Although I'm short and stocky and you're long and lean
I've got a crush on you
Then he squeezed her tighter and tighter and tighter
I've got a crush on you
He said I'm a king snake, and you'll be my queen
With a butler and serpents, and your own private stream
And If you refuse me it would be such a shame
'Cause I'm so tired of doing my own fang
Then he squeezed her tighter
To excite her and delight her
Oh I've got a crush on you
(And I'll be back tomorrow)
Next day when he got there, a two-legged man
Was holding sweet green thing in his big human hand
A long jet of water shot out of her nose
Oh king snake had fallen in love with a hose
My skin is black, your skin is green
You dwell in a garden, I live by a stream
Although you're made of plastic, I think your fantastic!
Oh, I've got a crush on you
But i don't think it's going to work yeaaahh ooohh
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: B Braddock
The Snake Song lyrics © Sony/atv Music Publishing