Palaces of Montezuma
Grinderman Lyrics

Psychedelic invocations
Abstract references to intense, hallucinogenic experiences

Of Mata Hari at the station
Evoking the infamous Mata Hari, a dancer and courtesan who was accused of spying during World War I while waiting at a train station

I give to you
The singer is offering the following things to their lover

A Java princess of Hindu Birth
A woman who hails from Java, an island in Indonesia with a predominantly Hindu population, and is regarded as a noble princess

A woman of flesh, a child of the earth
A woman who is human and grounded in reality

The hanging gardens of Babylon
A famous ancient wonder of the world with gardens built on terraces

Miles Davis, the black unicorn
A reference to the legendary jazz musician Miles Davis, seen as a rare and mythical creature in music

The palaces of Montezuma
The opulent and impressive residences of the Aztec emperor Montezuma

And the gardens of Akbar's tomb
The serene and peaceful gardens surrounding the final resting place of emperor Akbar in India

The Spider Goddess and the Needle Boy
A reference to mythical figures, possibly a Hindu goddess and a boy who works with needles

The slave-dwarves they employ
Servants who are of short stature and may have been taken as slaves

A custard-coloured super-dream
A dream that is vividly imagined and has a yellowish hue like the dessert custard

Of Ali McGraw and Steve McQueen
A dream starring the actors Ali McGraw and Steve McQueen, who were married at the time this song was written

C'mon baby, let's get out of the cold
A call to their lover to escape the harsh, difficult realities of life

And gimme, gimmme, gimme your precious love for me to hold
A plea for their lover's affection and devotion

The epic of Gilgamesh
A reference to an ancient Sumerian epic poem about a king's quest for immortality

A pretty little black A-line dress
A stylish and elegant article of clothing

The spinal cord of JFK
A macabre and somewhat conspiratorial reference to the assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy

Wrapped in Marilyn Monroe's negligee
Another reference to the iconic actress Marilyn Monroe, whose intimate relationship with JFK was rumored

I want nothing in return
The artist is offering these things to their lover without the expectation of any physical or material reward

Just the softest little breathless word
A whispered expression of love or affection

A word contained in a grain of sand
A small and seemingly insignificant thing that holds great meaning

That can barely walk, can't even stand
A metaphor for how fragile and vulnerable this love seems

C'mon baby, come out of the cold
A repeated call to their lover to escape hardship

Give it to me
A final plea for their lover's love and affection

Yeah give it to me
Repeated to emphasize the intensity of the desire expressed in the song