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 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 snatched 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
It's just like watching the detectives
Oh, 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
They're watching the detectives
They're watching the detectives
Watching the detectives


Lyrics submitted by mourninghasbroken, edited by ljadwin, DocMarten, tdg, GordianPiusIII, blade9

Watching the Detectives Lyrics as written by Elvis Costello

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group

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Watching the Detectives song meanings
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79 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    oh yeh, i forgot

    the wife is flashing back to when she spied on them at the motel. When she decided to do it, kill the girl. The flashing vacancy light, maybe imagining the girl taking her clothes off, imagining how her husband lies with her. Or perhaps, being an enterprising lady, she actually saw the whole thing. She's muttering to her self 'I don't know how much more of this i can take.'

    very good song. definately inspired by cop shows. The question is, is elvis watching a cop show and describing it? or is it like him telling a story of a jilted lover? one of his signature notes? the unique changes of perspective, it kind of goes in and out like a moebius. Its his story about a story within a story. ok i've gone too deep. i like it. great song.

    grimjackon September 17, 2007   Link

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