Watching The Detectives

Words & Music:

Declan Patrick Aloysius MacManus (Elvis Costello)

Nice girls, not one with a defect.

Cellophane shrinkwrap, so correct.

Am F

Red dogs under illegal legs.

Am F

She looks so good that he gets down and begs.

CHORUS:

C G

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

C G C F D

Watching the detectives when they shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot.

Am G

They beat him up until the teardrops start.

F C G

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 to 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 door, 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.

CHORUS: Am F

Mats Jansson's tab of the intro guitar lick [over Am F]:

Rhythm: 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

E -----------|-------------|

B ----0------|-1-0-1-------|

G --02-------|-------------|

D 23---------|-------3-----|

A -----------|-------------|

E -----------|-------------|