I was just looking for some info as to the origins of this song and found myself here on Mudcat. Anyway, the version I'm most familiar with is Al Wilson's (simply called "The Snake." Like another poster above, I've always had the feeling this is probably based on an old African folktale, and channeled through our deep south. I was reminded of the song because of a story in the news here in southeast Michigan about a woman (either aunt or mother) who allowed a convicted (paroled) murderer into her family's life only for him to shoot their five-year-old little girl. Anyway, I was wondering whether anyone ever found anything definitive on the song's origins.