Spiders & Snakes (song)
{{Infobox song
| name = Spiders & Snakes
| image = Spiders and snakes by jim stafford US single polydor reissue.png
| alt = side-A label by Polydor Records
| caption = One of side-A labels of the US reissue single
| type = single
| artist = Jim Stafford
| album = Jim Stafford
| B-side = Undecided
| released = January 2, 1974
| recorded = 1973
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Swamp rock{{Cite web|url=https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-swamp-rock-2522008/|title = Understanding the Musical Mix of Country, Funk, and Soul}}{{cite web|first= Tom |last= Breihan |title= The Number Ones: The Bellamy Brothers' "Let Your Love Flow"|website= Stereogum |date= August 30, 2019 |url= https://www.stereogum.com/2056410/the-number-ones-the-bellamy-brothers-let-your-love-flow/columns/the-number-ones/|quote= Stafford and David Bellamy, the younger of the two brothers, co-wrote “Spiders And Snakes,” a nasty swamp-rock jam...|accessdate= June 28, 2023}}
| length = 3:07
| label = MGM
| writer = Jim Stafford, David Bellamy
| producer = Phil Gernhard and Lobo
| prev_title = Swamp Witch
| prev_year = 1973
| next_title = My Girl Bill
| next_year = 1974
| misc = {{External music video|header=Official audio|{{YouTube|fOs1w3zzWCQ|"Spiders & Snakes"}}}}
}}
"Spiders & Snakes" is a 1974 hit song recorded by Jim Stafford and written by Stafford and David Bellamy of The Bellamy Brothers. It was the second of four U.S. Top 40 singles released from his eponymous debut album and also the highest-charting at number three. The lyrics in the verses are spoken, while only the chorus is sung.
Lyrics
The song begins with the narrator being asked by a girl, Mary Lou, to walk her home from school, which he accepts. She says that she would like to spend some time alone together instead of going right home; the narrator agrees. They go to the swimming hole. While there, the narrator catches a frog on a hollow log. He shakes it at her saying "This frog's for you." Mary Lou informs him that she dislikes spiders and snakes. She adds that his actions are not the way to bring about a romantic response from her. After a while, the narrator phones her to get together again. She says that she'll see him after school. He is nervous this time, thinking of another scheme, when Mary Lou again tells him clearly of her dislike for spiders and snakes, reiterating the same unromantic reasons. (Source: Metro Lyrics)
Commercial performance
"Spiders and Snakes" was a hit in 1974, spending one week at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100.{{cite web|author= |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1974-03-02 |title=Music: Top 100 Songs | Billboard Hot 100 Chart |publisher=Billboard.com |date=1974-03-02 |accessdate=2015-05-28}} In Canada, the song reached number one.{{cite web|url=https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.4964a&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=h00spiia1p0vdks7ou7uend5q6 |title=Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada |publisher=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |date= |accessdate=2015-05-28}} 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.{{cite book | first= Joseph | last= Murrells | year= 1978 | title= The Book of Golden Discs | edition= 2nd | publisher= Barrie and Jenkins Ltd | location= London | page= [https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/336 336] | isbn= 0-214-20512-6 | url-access= registration | url= https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/336 }}
Chart performance
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Cover versions
- The Party covered the song for the soundtrack to the 1990 movie, Arachnophobia & was later included in their 1991 album In The Meantime, In Between Time
- Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty included a cover of "Spiders & Snakes" on their 1974 album Country Partners.{{cite web|title=www.allmusic.com|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/country-partners-mw0000314259|website=allmusic.com|accessdate=May 1, 2022}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.oldielyrics.com/lyrics/jim_stafford/spiders_and_snakes.html Lyrics of this song]
- {{YouTube|TtfVucUx9IE|Jim Stafford - Spiders & Snakes}}
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Category:RPM Top Singles number-one singles