The Snake (Al Wilson song)

"The Snake"
Single by Al Wilson
B-side Willoughby Brook
Released 1968
Genre Soul
Length 3:27
Label Bell
Writer(s) Oscar Brown
Producer(s) Johnny Rivers, Marc Gordon
Al Wilson singles chronology
"Medley: I Won't Last a Day Without You/Let Me Be the One"
1974		 "The Snake"
(1974)		 "La La Peace Song"
(1974)

"The Snake" is a song and single released by American singer Al Wilson in 1968, and written by Oscar Brown in 1963.[1] [2] The lyrics tell a story inspired by Aesop's fable of The Farmer and the Viper. The song was also released by Johnny Rivers on his 1966 album . . . And I Know You Want to Dance.

Although released in 1968 in both the United States and the UK, due to exposure of the song on the UK northern soul scene, it entered the UK Singles Chart in August 1975 when reissued, reaching number 41 in September.[3] The success of "The Snake" on the northern soul nightclub circuit has led to it being ranked 4 of 500 top northern soul singles and for it to appear on over 30 pop and northern soul compilation albums.[4][5][6] The song was re-released in 1989 as a B-side to a re-release of "Just Don't Want to Be Lonely" by The Main Ingredient.[1] Wilson's recording of "The Snake" was also featured in a Lambrini television advertisement in the UK.[7]

The song gained renewed attention during the campaign for the 2016 United States Presidential election. Republican candidate Donald Trump read its lyrics at several campaign rallies to illustrate his position on the Syrian refugee crisis, claiming that the decision to allow people claiming refugee status to enter the United States would "come back to bite us", as happened to the woman who took in the snake in the song.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 "The Snake". www.discogs.com. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
  2. ↑ "Al Wilson: Expressive singer of 'The Snake'". www.independent.co.uk. 24 April 2008. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
  3. ↑ "The Snake". www.chartarchive.org. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
  4. ↑ Roberts, Kev (2007). The Northern Soul Top 500. Goldsoul Entertainment Limited. ISBN 9780955751905.
  5. ↑ "Northern Soul Top 500". www.rocklistmusic.co.uk. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
  6. ↑ "The Snake - Al Wilson". www.allmusic.com. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
  7. ↑ "Lambrini – Just Wanna Dance". www.tvadmusic.co.uk. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
  8. ↑ "Donald Trump Reads Lyrics From Al Wilson's "The Snake" About Syrian Refugees". ABC News. January 13, 2016. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
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