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Watching the Detectives
cover song by Duran Duran
Released 4 April 1995
Recorded 1992-94
Genre New wave, punk, ska, reggae
Length 4:48 minutes
Label Capitol, EMI
Writer Elvis Costello
Producer(s) Duran Duran
John Jones
Duran Duran

"Watching the Detectives" is a cover song by Duran Duran, released on the album Thank You by Capitol-EMI on 4 April 1995.

About the song[]

Written by Elvis Costello, "Watching the Detectives" features on the Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" at no.354.

The lyrics are about a lover who would rather watch TV. The song is considered by Elvis Costello as his favourite from the first five years of his career.

Duran Duran recorded the song with Roger Taylor on drums for the covers album Thank You. The album was an attempt to keep the peace among band members, who had increasing trouble writing music together.

Other appearances[]

Albums:

Personnel[]

Duran Duran are:

With:

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, oh 
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 
cos 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 
cigarrette.
She pulls the eyes out with a face like a magnet
I don't know 
how much more of this I can take
She filing her finger nails while they're 
dragging the lake

(chorus)

Now 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 tear-drops 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.

See also[]