Watching The Detectives

Lyrics - Credits - Discography - Covers - Bootlegs - Chords

Lyrics 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.

Credits Written by: Elvis Costello Produced by: Nick Lowe Musicians: Elvis Costello - vocals, guitar Andrew Bodnar - bass Steve Goulding - drums Steve Nieve - organ and piano overdubs Discography Albums: My Aim Is True, 1977 (U.S. version) This Year's Model, 1978 (Belgian, French, German, Swedish (Smash) & Argentinian versions; song mastered slightly too fast) Viva England, 1982 (Spain) My Aim Is True (reissue), Rykodisc/Demon, 1993 My Aim Is True (Deluxe Edition), Rhino, 2001 This section may be incomplete. Singles: Watching The Detectives, 1977 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, Vol. 1, 2003 This section may be incomplete. Alternate Versions: Watching The Detectives (edit) Watching The Detectives, 1977 (some copies) Less Than Zero, 1985 (12" single) Watching The Detectives (demo version) NME Pogo A Go Go, 1986 (cassette version only) Watching The Detectives (live at the El Mocambo, Toronto 1978-03-06) Live At The El Mocambo, 1978 (Canadian promo) Live At The El Mocambo, Rykodisc/Demon, 1993 2½ Years, 1993 Watching The Detectives (live at Hollywood High School, Hollywood, CA 1978-06-04) Live At Hollywood High, 1979 Armed Forces (reissue), Rykodisc/Demon, 1993 Armed Forces (Deluxe Edition), Rhino, 2002 Watching The Detectives (live at the Park West, Chicago, IL 1996-05-18) Costello & Nieve, 1996 Watching The Detectives / My Funny Valentine (live in Tokyo 2002-07-05) Cruel Smile, 2002 Watching The Detectives (live with the Metropole Orkest, The Hague, Netherlands 2004-07-09) My Flame Burns Blue, 2006 Soundtracks: The Grimleys, 2001 Crimebusters & Crossed Wires: Stories from This American Life 2003 Various Artists collections: Sharp (16 Sharp New Rock Acts), (Holland; mastered slightly too 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 (U.K.) Rolling Stone: 25 Years of Rock, 1993 Start: The Best Of British, 1994 (reissued 1998) Was Het Nu 70 Of 80?, 1996 A Hard Night's Day: The Best Of Stiff Records, 1997 Teenage Kicks, 2002 Ultimate New-Wave, 2003 Covers Recorded by: Bonnie Brett The Elvis Costello Songbook 2004 Stuart Davis Davis Does Elvis 2004 Duran Duran, Thank You 1995 Jenna Mammina, Under the Influence 1999 The Po Boys, Tonight Matthew... Patrik Tanner, A Tribute to Elvis Costello 2004 Toto, Through the Looking Glass 2002 This section may be incomplete. Performed by: none This section may be incomplete. Bootlegs This section is incomplete.

Chords

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Internal links

• Elvis Costello Home Page: My Aim Is True | lyrics | chords | MAIT info page | Rykodisc/Demon MAIT reissue info page | Rhino MAIT reissue info page | Viva England info page
• Elvis Costello Home Page: Watching The Detectives single info page | Watching The Detectives U.S. single info page
• Template:Watching The Detectives

External links

• Elvis Costello on Rhino My Aim Is True reissue page