Nice girls not one with a defect,
cellophane shrink-wrapped, so correct.
Red dogs under illegal legs.
She looks so good that he gets down and begs.
She is watching the detectives.
"ooh, he's so cute!"
She is watching the detectives
when they shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot.
They beat him up until the teardrops start,
but he can't be wounded 'cause he's got no heart.
Long shot of that jumping sign,
Visible shivers running down my spine.
Cut the baby taking off her clothes.
Close-up of the sign that says,"We never close"
You snatch a tune, you match a cigarette,
She pulls the eyes out with a face like a magnet.
I don't know how much more of this I can take.
She's filing her nails while they're dragging the lake.
Chorus
You think you're alone until you realize you're in it.
Now fear is here to stay. Love is here for a visit.
They call it instant justice when it's past the legal limit.
Someone's scratching at the window. I wonder who is it?
The detectives come to check if you belong to the parents
who are ready to hear the worst about their daughter's disappearance.
Though it nearly took a miracle to get you to stay,
it only took my little fingers to blow you away.
Just like watching the detectives.
Don't get cute!"
It's just like watching the detectives.
I get so angry when the teardrops start,
but he can't be wounded 'cause he's got no heart.
Watching the detectives.
It's just like watching the detectives.
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Watching The Detectives |
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Written by | Elvis Costello |
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Performed by | Elvis Costello |
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Produced by | Nick Lowe |
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Musicians | Elvis Costello - vocals, guitar Andrew Bodnar - bass Steve Goulding - drums Steve Nieve - organ & piano overdubs |
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Recorded | May-June 1977, Pathway Studios, London |
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Released | October 14, 1977 |
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Albums | My Aim Is True, 1977 (not on original release in UK, Belgium & Portugal) Viva England, 1982 (Spain) This Year's Model, 1978 (Belgium, France, Germany, Sweden & Australia only; mastered slightly fast) |
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Singles | Watching The Detectives, 1977 (some copies have edited version) Less Than Zero, 1985 (12" single; edited version) |
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Collections | Ten Bloody Marys & Ten How's Your Fathers, 1980 The Best Of Elvis Costello & The Attractions, 1985 The Man (The Best Of Elvis Costello), 1985 Girls Girls Girls, 1989 2½ Years, 1993 The Very Best Of Elvis Costello & The Attractions, 1994 The Very Best Of Elvis Costello, 1999 Singles, Volume 1, 2003 The Best Of Elvis Costello The First 10 Years, 2007 |
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Soundtracks | That Summer!, 1979 The Grimleys, 2001 - |
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Various Artists collections | Sharp (16 Sharp New Rock Acts), 19__ (Netherlands; mastered slightly fast) New Wave Disco d'Ouro, 1981 (Portugal) The Stiff Records Box Set, 1992 Three Minute Heroes: 20 Of The Best Punk & New Wave Singles, 1992 Rolling Stone 25 Years of Rock, 1993 Start: The Best Of British, 1994 Was Het Nu 70 Of 80?, 1996 A Hard Night's Day, 1997 Ultimate New Wave Hits, 1997 - Teenage Kicks, 2002 - Crimebusters & Crossed Wires: Stories from This American Life, 2003 - Borders Rock Essentials Volume 2, 2004 |
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Promos | 4 Track Sampler From My Aim Is True, 1977 Excerpts From Stiff's Greatest Hits, 1978 (excerpt) Rock Australia Magazine, 1978 Our Aim Is True, 1978 2½ Years In 31 Minutes, 1993 Selections From My Aim Is True, Spike, And All This Useless Beauty, 2001 UK Elvis Costello, 2002 |
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Length | 3:45 (most releases) 3:06 (edited version) |
Alternate versions
Watching The Detectives (Live 2006) |
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Performed by | Elvis Costello featuring The Imposters, Anthony "AB" Brown & The Crescent City Horns |
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Horn arrangement | Elvis Costello (four-part reduction by Chris Walden) |
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Musicians | Elvis Costello - vocal, guitar Steve Nieve - keyboards Davey Faragher - bass, backing vocal Pete Thomas - drums Anthony "AB" Brown - guitar Amadee Castenell - saxophone Brian "Breeze" Cayolle - saxophone Joe "Foxx" Smith - trumpet Sam "Big Sam" Williams - trombone |
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Recorded | July 3, 2006, Montreal, QC, Canada |
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Released | December 5, 2006 |
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Videos | Hot As A Pistol, Keen As A Blade, 2006 |
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