The Lime Spiders are an Australian band which play a hybrid of garage and p… Read Full Bio ↴The Lime Spiders are an Australian band which play a hybrid of garage and psychedelic rock. Lead Singer Mick Blood formed the band in the early '80s with guitarist Gerard Corben, bassist Tony Bambach and drummer Ricky Lawson. The Spiders released their monumental single 'Slave Girl', on the Citadel label, in 1983. In the years to follow, the Spiders issued one amazing single after another: 25th Hour, Out of Control, Weirdo Libido, My Favourite Room, and Volatile. Slave Girl would go on to be one of the best selling independent singles of the 1980s. In 1987 the band would release it's first full length album, the well received 'The Cave Comes Alive'. They would go on to release two more full length albums, 'Volatile' in 1988, and 'Beethoven's Fist' in 1990. The group disbanded after the release of 'Beethoven's Fist'. A box set entitled 'Nine Miles High', which highlighted the band's career, was released in 2002. They still play sporadically in 2007. In 2008, the Lime Spiders played three Christmas shows in Sydney. These performances saw the new face of Tom Corben, the son of Gerard, playing the drums in place of Richard Lawson.

Slave Girl
Lime Spiders Lyrics

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Let me tell you 'bout a girl I know
I drag her around wherever I go
This little woman drives me insane
She's tied to my ankle with a ball and chain

For sixteen years she's been hangin' around
Try'n' to bury me in a hole in the ground
Well I think it's time that I even the score

There's only room for one in this cage of yours

Don't save me when I'm startin' to drown
Don't use me when you don't want me around
Just be my slave girl 'cause that's all I need
So take a little step back to the stone age with me. Go!

Well I hear a strange noise as I lie in my bed
I feel a lotta water drippin' on my head
I look around tried to see through my hair
You left me alone, but do you think I care?

'Cause you moved me when I was takin' my time
You abused me when I'm outta line
You tried to warn me of the danger sign
So watch out, go

Well, you got me in the bondage of another age
You drive me to distraction in a primitive way
I can't control my instincts when I hear her say
"Just come around and see me if you lose your way"

So join my chain gang play along with me

I'll be your caveman, it's basic as can be
I'm not insane, man, I'm just outta my dream

Overall Meaning

The Lime Spiders' song "Slave Girl" is a rock song that refers to a woman whom the singer represents as being a burden on him. The singer confesses that he drags the woman wherever he goes, and that he feels that she's driving him crazy. The metaphor of her being tied to his ankle with a ball and chain suggests an oppressive relationship between the two. For sixteen years, the woman has been hanging around, trying to bury the singer in a hole in the ground, indicating that she may be jealous, possessive, or manipulative. He, therefore, proposes that it's time to even the score, declaring that there's only room for one in this cage.

The chorus appears to suggest a BDSM-inspired relationship, with the singer appealing to the woman to be his slave girl. He implies that all he needs from her is for her to submit to him completely, fulfilling his basic caveman desires. The reference to taking a little step back to the stone age with him means he desires a primitive, archaic kind of relationship. The mention of warning about the danger sign shows that the woman may have been trying to help him avoid harm or pain caused by their relationship, but he dismisses her attempts, showing his lack of care for her or their relationship's impact on her.

"Slave Girl" was released on the Lime Spiders' 1984 debut album, "The Cave Comes Alive!," and it became an underground hit in Australia. The song attracted controversy and accusations of sexism, with its provocative lyrics and suggestive themes. However, the band members argued that the song was simply a tongue-in-cheek commentary on their own relationships' primitive and oppressive nature. The band claimed that the line "Just be my slave girl 'cause that's all I need" was meant to be ironic.

Line by Line Meaning

Let me tell you 'bout a girl I know
I am going to talk about a girl I know

I drag her around wherever I go
I take her with me everywhere I go

This little woman drives me insane
This girl drives me crazy

She's tied to my ankle with a ball and chain
I feel like she is a burden that I can't get rid of

For sixteen years she's been hangin' around
I have known her for 16 years

Try'n' to bury me in a hole in the ground
She is overwhelming and suffocating me

Well I think it's time that I even the score
I want to get back at her for how she has treated me

There's only room for one in this cage of yours
I feel trapped in this relationship and want out

Don't save me when I'm startin' to drown
Don't try to help me when I'm in trouble

Don't use me when you don't want me around
Don't take advantage of me when it's convenient for you

Just be my slave girl 'cause that's all I need
I just want you to be subservient to me

So take a little step back to the stone age with me. Go!
Let's go back to a more primitive way of living

Well I hear a strange noise as I lie in my bed
I hear something strange while lying in bed

I feel a lotta water drippin' on my head
Water is dripping on my head

I look around tried to see through my hair
I am trying to see through my hair but can't

You left me alone, but do you think I care?
You have left me alone, but I don't really care

'Cause you moved me when I was takin' my time
You interrupted me when I was doing something important

You abused me when I'm outta line
You treated me poorly when I messed up

You tried to warn me of the danger sign
You tried to warn me of a potential problem

So watch out, go
Be careful

Well, you got me in the bondage of another age
You have me trapped in a primitive way of living

You drive me to distraction in a primitive way
You are overwhelming me with your caveman mentality

I can't control my instincts when I hear her say
I am unable to control my impulses when she speaks to me

"Just come around and see me if you lose your way"
"Come to me if you ever feel lost"

So join my chain gang play along with me
Be a part of my primitive way of life and do what I say

I'll be your caveman, it's basic as can be
I am going to act like a caveman because it's simple

I'm not insane, man, I'm just outta my dream
I am not crazy, I am just being realistic

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BLOOD, JAKIMYSZYN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

@enlightenedDiamond

13y↑3

The BEST Spiders song

@aheartlikethesea

8y↑4

The Goo Goo Dolls got me obsessed with this song. Love hearing the original!

@Moshcam

11y↑3

Yes indeed,! And another one in the queue along with another 5,000 or so more live music videos on top of the 5,00 we've uploaded so far. We're getting there!

@outbackbluesdude2494

2y↑2

He is right this is a fecken hard song to sing. I remember when this song was banned in Brisbane and was even the subject of a record store raid by the Queensland police. Crazy days indeed.

@frovil

13y

Thank You Moshcam for making a long time wandering Aussie's life a bit more pleasurable with your gigs at the Metro and Annandale and all those long missed haunts. I hope you guys keep going strong!