Lyrics:

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