[TITLE: SNAKE IN THE GRASS] [ARTIST: JUAN GRINGO] [VERSION: THE TEXAS HONKY-TONK VERSION] [TRADITIONAL 1970s TEXAS COUNTRY TWO-STEP] [DEEP WEATHERED TEXAS MALE BARITONE ONLY] [NO ROCK VOCALS, NO DISTORTION] [PEDAL STEEL, FIDDLE, TELECASTER, ACOUSTIC GUITAR] [STEADY TWO-STEP GROOVE THROUGHOUT] [INTRO — INSTRUMENTAL ONLY — 8 BARS] [Clean Telecaster plays a bright, memorable country hook] [Pedal steel answers with a long, aching slide] [Fiddle joins over walking bass and steady two-step drums] [Warm analog recording, natural room sound] [ABSOLUTELY NO VOCALS, HUMMING, CHANTS OR VOCAL SAMPLES BEFORE VERSE 1] I’m Juan Gringo and this is Snake In The Grass! Here we go [VERSE 1 — RELAXED TEXAS BARITONE, CONVERSATIONAL] You shook my hand with a loaded smile Said you'd walk beside me every mile Had my back, that's what you said While you counted every step ahead [SHORT PEDAL STEEL ANSWER] You knew the names, you knew the game Knew just where to place the blame Never raised your voice or showed your teeth Just kept your knife where I couldn't see [PRE-CHORUS — RESTRAINED COUNTRY MELODY] You don't need a gun to take a shot Don't need a match to burn the lot Some folks lie, some folks steal Some shake your hand while they turn the wheel [FIDDLE PICKUP INTO CHORUS] [CHORUS — CATCHY TRADITIONAL COUNTRY TWO-STEP] Snake in the grass! I hear you movin'! Smile in my face! While the knife goes through me! Snake in the grass! I know your kind! Say you got my back While you're workin' behind! [PEDAL STEEL FILLS BETWEEN LINES] [KEEP THE CHORUS MELODIC, NOT SHOUTED] [POST-CHORUS — COUNTRY STORYTELLING] Keep your friends close Keep your enemies in sight It's the ones that call you brother That'll cut you in the night [INSTRUMENTAL TURNAROUND — 4 BARS] [TELECASTER CHICKEN-PICKIN' AND FIDDLE] [NO VOCALS] [VERSE 2 — EASY TEXAS DRAWL, BITTER BUT CONTROLLED] You played the part, you wore the face Took your seat and knew your place Passed the word when I wasn't there Then acted shocked when it filled the air [SHORT FIDDLE ANSWER] Every favor came with strings Every promise had hidden things You didn't stab me in the street You pulled the ground from under my feet [PRE-CHORUS — STEADY TWO-STEP] You don't need a gun to take a shot Don't need a match to burn the lot Some folks lie, some folks steal Some shake your hand while they turn the wheel [CHORUS — WARM, MEMORABLE COUNTRY MELODY] Snake in the grass! I hear you movin'! Smile in my face! While the knife goes through me! Snake in the grass! I know your kind! Say you got my back While you're workin' behind! [INSTRUMENTAL BREAK — 16 BARS] [8 BARS PEDAL STEEL SOLO] [8 BARS WESTERN FIDDLE SOLO] [TELECASTER PLAYS LIGHT RHYTHM FILLS] [WALKING BASS AND TWO-STEP DRUMS STAY STEADY] [NO ROCK GUITAR SOLO] [NO VOCALS] [BRIDGE — QUIET, NEAR-SPOKEN TEXAS STORYTELLING] Funny how the truth comes out When the room gets quiet Funny how the loudest loyalty Never seems to buy it [ACOUSTIC GUITAR AND SOFT PEDAL STEEL] I don't need revenge I don't need a scene I just know exactly What your friendship means [BREAKDOWN — STRIPPED-DOWN COUNTRY] [ACOUSTIC GUITAR, UPRIGHT-STYLE BASS, LIGHT BRUSHED SNARE] I saw the tracks I heard the sound I watched you smile While you dragged me down No more favors No more trust I know what crawls Beneath the dust [FIDDLE AND STEEL BUILD INTO FINAL CHORUS] [FINAL CHORUS — FULL TEXAS HONKY-TONK BAND] Snake in the grass! I hear you movin'! Smile in my face! While the knife goes through me! Snake in the grass! I know your kind! Say you got my back While you're workin' behind! [FINAL REFRAIN — SOFT, BITTERSWEET COUNTRY HARMONY] Snake in the grass... I know your kind... Snake in the grass... You were never on my side... [OUTRO — DEEP TEXAS BARITONE, MATTER-OF-FACT] You can keep the handshake You can keep the smile I know what you are I just didn't know it for a while [FINAL INSTRUMENTAL — 8 BARS] [PEDAL STEEL PLAYS A LONELY DESCENDING MELODY] [FIDDLE ANSWERS] [TELECASTER RETURNS TO OPENING HOOK] [TRADITIONAL HONKY-TONK ENDING, NATURAL BAND STOP] [NO VOCALS] [END]
