Words by Christopher Cross

Music by Christopher Cross and Michael Omartian



You gotta be smart you gotta be cool

You gotta keep a straight face

When you're playin' the fool

You gotta wear a smile

When you're breakin' the rules

You gotta charm that snake now, baby



You gotta be smooth,you gotta be quick

I think it might just help

To be a little bit sick

You know the bite can't cut you

If the skin is thick

You gotta charm that snake now, baby



Hey, we ain't all good lookin'

Ain't no reason to take a good lickin'

The clock on the wall's

Gonna keep on tickin'

Charm that snake now, baby



Don't let go of it

Don't let go

You gotta charm that snake

You gotta charm that snake



One stripe, two stripes

What does it mean

The venom is lethal

But the meat is clean

The best take advantage of you like a machine

You gotta charm that snake now, maybe



Don't let the fingernails

Under the heart

If they get a good grip

They're gonna rip it apart

The first and last kisses

Are the dangerous part

You gotta charm that snake now, maybe



There's a hook in the bait

The first one made a mistake

If you've got what it takes

You better charm that snake

You gotta let it show

You ain't gonna let it go

I'm gonna let 'em know

I'm never gonna let it go