Jim Stafford – Spiders And Snakes

“Spiders & Snakes” is a 1974 hit song recorded by Jim Stafford and written by Stafford and David Bellamy. It was the second of four U.S. Top 40 singles released from his eponymous debut album and also the highest-charting. The lyrics in the verses are spoken, while only the chorus is sung.

“Spiders and Snakes” was one of the top hits of 1974, spending one week at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100. In Canada, the song reached number one. The song spent five and a half months on the US charts, sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA on March 8, 1974.

Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty included a cover of “Spiders & Snakes” on their 1974 album Country Partners.

From the album Jim Stafford
B-side “Undecided”
Released January 2, 1974
Recorded 1973
Genre Country, pop, swamp rock[1]
Length 3:07
Label MGM
Songwriter(s) Jim Stafford, David Bellamy
Producer(s) Phil Gernhard and Lobo

Jim Stafford – Spiders And Snakes Lyrics

I remember when Mary Lou said
‘You want to walk me home from school’
And I said, ‘Yes, I do’
She said, ‘I don’t have to go right home
And I’m the kind that likes to be alone
As long as you would’
I said, ‘Me, too’

And so we took a stroll
Wound up down by the swimmin’ hole
And she said, ‘Do what you want to do’
I got silly and I found a frog
In the water by a hollow log
And I shook it at her
And I said ‘This frog’s for you’
She said

[Chorus]
‘I don’t like spiders and snakes
And that ain’t what it takes to love me
You fool, you fool
I don’t like spiders and snakes
And that ain’t what it takes to love me
Like I want to be loved by you’

Well, I think of that girl from time to time
I call her up when I got a dime
I say, “Hello, baby’
She says, ‘Ain’t you cool’
I say, ‘Do you remember when?
And would you like to get together again?’
She says, ‘I’ll see you after school’

I was shy and so for a while
Most of my love was touch and smile
‘Til she said, ‘Come on over here’
I was nervous as you might guess
Still looking for somethin’ to slip down her dress
And she said, ‘Let’s make it perfectly clear’
She said