Watching the Detectives

Elvis Costello

About Watching the Detectives

"Watching the Detectives" is a 1977 single by English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello. His fourth single overall, it was his first hit single on any national chart, peaking at #15 in the UK and also charting modestly in Canada, Australia and the U. S. The song featured on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time at No. 363.


Year:
2003
3:45
110 

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Nice girls, not one with a defect
Cellophane shrink-wrapped, so correct
Red dogs under illegal x
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 at that jumping sign
Invisible shivers running down my spine
Cut to baby taking off her clothes
Close-up of the sign that says "We never close"
He snatches at you and you match his 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

She is watching the detectives
"Ooh, he's so cute"
She is watching the detectives
Oh 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

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
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
Watching the detectives
Watching the detectives

Watching the detectives
Watching the detectives
They're watching the detectives
Watching the detectives

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Elvis Costello

Elvis Costello (born Declan Patrick MacManus, 25 August 1954) is an English singer-songwriter. He began his career as part of London's pub rock scene in the early 1970s and later became associated with the first wave of the British punk/New Wave movement of the mid-to-late 1970s. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader than that of most popular songs. His music has drawn on many diverse genres; one critic described him as a "pop encyclopaedia", able to "reinvent the past in his own image". more »

6 fans

Written by: Elvis Costello

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


11 facts about this song

Song Composition
"Watching the Detectives" was written by Elvis Costley himself, making it one of his original compositions to debut his career.
Production Information
The song was produced by Nick Lowe, a renowned English singer-songwriter and musician known for his involvement in new wave and punk rock.
Musical Style
This song is often categorized under new wave, reggae and punk rock, showcasing Costello's diverse genre involvement.
Release Date
"Watching the Detectives" was first released as a single in October 1977, making it one of Costello's earliest works.
Album Inclusion
Although the song was initially a non-album single, it was later included in the U.S. version of Costello's debut album "My Aim Is True."
Chart Performance
The song had significant chart success in the UK, reaching No. 15 on the UK singles chart. However, it did not chart in the U.S.
Song Inspiration
Costello reportedly wrote "Watching the Detectives" while listening to "The Clash," a British punk rock band.
Song Interpretation
The lyrics of the song appear to relate an individual's fascination with crime-regarding TV shows, which turns into a real-life crime scene.
Significant Recognition
The song is regarded as one of Costello's signature songs. In 2001, it was put at number 354 in "Rolling Stone" magazine's list of "500 Greatest Songs of All Time,"
Live Versions
Elvis Costello often performs "Watching the Detectives" in his live shows, with a rotating line-up of band members, but always keeping the original arrangement largely intact.
Literary Reference
The lyrics of the song reportedly reference the popular Raymond Chandler novel "The Big Sleep," illustrating how Costley effectively exploits literary techniques in his songwriting.

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