"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.
| "Spiders & Snakes" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 One of side-A labels of the US reissue single | ||||
| Single by Jim Stafford | ||||
| from the album Jim Stafford | ||||
| B-side | "Undecided" | |||
| Released | January 2, 1974 | |||
| Recorded | 1973 | |||
| Genre | Swamp rock[1][2] | |||
| Length | 3:07 | |||
| Label | MGM | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Jim Stafford, David Bellamy | |||
| Producer(s) | Phil Gernhard and Lobo | |||
| Jim Stafford singles chronology | ||||
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| Official audio | ||||
| "Spiders & Snakes" on YouTube | ||||
Lyrics
editThe 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
edit"Spiders and Snakes" was a hit in 1974, spending one week at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100.[3] In Canada, the song reached number one.[4] 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.[5]
Chart performance
edit
Weekly chartsedit
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Year-end chartsedit
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Cover versions
edit- 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.[16]
References
edit- ^ "Understanding the Musical Mix of Country, Funk, and Soul".
- ^ Breihan, Tom (August 30, 2019). "The Number Ones: The Bellamy Brothers' "Let Your Love Flow"". Stereogum. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
Stafford and David Bellamy, the younger of the two brothers, co-wrote "Spiders And Snakes," a nasty swamp-rock jam...
- ^ a b "Music: Top 100 Songs | Billboard Hot 100 Chart". Billboard.com. 1974-03-02. Retrieved 2015-05-28.
- ^ a b "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2015-05-28.
- ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 336. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 290. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2015-05-28.
- ^ "Flavour of new zealand - Home".
- ^ "Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2015-05-28.
- ^ Billboard Adult Contemporary, February 23, 1974
- ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, March 9, 1974". Archived from the original on January 15, 2018. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
- ^ "National Top 100 Singles for 1974". Kent Music Report. December 30, 1974. Retrieved January 15, 2022 – via Imgur.
- ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 2015-05-28. Retrieved 2015-05-28.
- ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1974/Top 100 Songs of 1974". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2015-05-28.
- ^ "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 28, 1974". Archived from the original on October 9, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
- ^ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved May 1, 2022.