Hi - The Snake, the song, was indeed written by Oscar Brown Jr. n 1966, (words and music) Al Wilson recorded the song in 1968 and it was on the charts for 3 months. Many people have recorded it including Paula West, and even, myself. My version of The Snake can be heard here.

There are also fables with this theme - including the snake and the tortoise - escaping from a fire in the woods, the snake asks the tortoise for a ride on his back across the stream - halfway to the safe bank of the stream the snake bites the tortoise. The tortoise asks why since he's going to die and then so is the snake who is on his back; the snake's response - "you knew I was a snake!"

The story/fable of how Oscar wrote this song is that he was out after a gig with Abbey Lincoln and Max Roach and they were talking about their agents! Oscar went home that night and by the time he woke up, he had written the song.