"The Snake" is a song written and first recorded by civil-rights activist Oscar Brown in 1963; it became a hit single for American singer Al Wilson in 1968.

In the U.S., the hit version of "The Snake" was released in 1968, on Johnny Rivers' Soul City Records.

The song was featured in season 4, episode 25 of the television show Northern Exposure, "Old Tree".

Republican candidate Donald Trump read its lyrics at several campaign rallies to illustrate his position on illegal immigration, claiming that the decision to allow people claiming refugee status to enter the United States would "come back to bite us", as happened to the woman who took in the snake in the song.

[17] Despite a cease and desist letter, Trump has continued reciting the lyrics at rallies including in June 2021,[18] and in September[19] and December 2023.