SNAKE IN THE GRASS THE LAST GOOD RADIO [INTRO — INSTRUMENTAL ONLY — 8 BARS] [1940s Texas Western swing dance-band introduction] [Twin fiddles play a bright harmonized descending melody] [Walking upright bass, brushed snare, rhythmic hollow-body guitar] [Boogie-woogie piano joins with a swinging turnaround] [Lap steel answers the fiddles with a sly sliding phrase] [Short full-band stop before Verse 1] [ABSOLUTELY NO VOCALS, HUMMING OR VOCAL SAMPLES] [VERSE 1 — WEATHERED MALE BARITONE, EASY SWING PHRASING] 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 LAP STEEL RESPONSE] 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 [TWIN FIDDLE TURNAROUND — 2 BARS] [PRE-CHORUS — MALE LEAD, FEMALE ALTO JOINS IN CLOSE HARMONY] 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 [STOP-TIME BAND ACCENT] [CHORUS — MALE/FEMALE WESTERN SWING DUET] SNAKE IN THE GRASS! I HEAR YOU MOVING! 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 WORKING BEHIND! [INSTRUMENTAL TURNAROUND — 4 BARS] [Twin fiddles and lap steel answer the chorus] [Walking bass maintains the infectious swing] [NO VOCALS] [POST-CHORUS — MALE LEAD WITH SOFT FEMALE HARMONY] Keep your friends close Keep your enemies in sight It's the ones that call you brother That'll cut you in the night [VERSE 2 — MALE LEAD, BITTER BUT SMOOTH] 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 [BOOGIE PIANO FILL] 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 — MALE LEAD, FEMALE CLOSE HARMONY] 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 — FULL WESTERN SWING BAND, DUET] SNAKE IN THE GRASS! I HEAR YOU MOVING! 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 WORKING BEHIND! [INSTRUMENTAL BREAK — 16 BARS] [First fiddle takes an energetic country-jazz solo] [Second fiddle joins in close harmony] [Lap steel answers with smooth sliding phrases] [Boogie-woogie piano takes a short rhythmic solo] [Walking bass and brushed drums keep dancers moving] [NO VOCALS] [BRIDGE — STRIPPED DOWN, MALE LEAD, INTIMATE] Funny how the truth comes out When the room gets quiet Funny how the loudest loyalty Never seems to buy it [UPRIGHT BASS AND SOFT PIANO ONLY] [FEMALE ALTO JOINS IN SOFT HARMONY] I don't need revenge I don't need a scene I just know exactly What your friendship means [BREAKDOWN — HALF-TIME SWING FEEL] [Muted guitar, upright bass, light snare taps] [MALE LEAD — QUIETLY CONFRONTATIONAL] I saw the tracks I heard the sound I watched you smile While you dragged me down [FEMALE HARMONY ENTERS, RESTRAINED] No more favors No more trust I know what crawls Beneath the dust [INSTRUMENTAL BUILD — 8 BARS] [Twin fiddles climb in harmony] [Lap steel bends upward] [Boogie piano rolls, drums return to full swing] [SHARP FULL-BAND STOP] [FINAL CHORUS — BIG MALE/FEMALE DUET, FULL BAND] SNAKE IN THE GRASS! I HEAR YOU MOVING! 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 WORKING BEHIND! [FINAL REFRAIN — WARM VINTAGE DUET HARMONIES] Snake in the grass... I know your kind... Snake in the grass... You were never on my side... [OUTRO — SLOWER VOCAL PHRASING OVER SWINGING BAND] [MALE LEAD — DRY, MATTER-OF-FACT] You can keep the handshake You can keep the smile I know what you are [FEMALE ALTO — SOFT HARMONY ON FINAL LINE] I just didn't know it for a while [FINAL INSTRUMENTAL — 4 BARS] [Twin fiddle descending turnaround] [Lap steel slide, piano flourish] [CRISP FULL-BAND VINTAGE RADIO ENDING] [END]
