Song For The Day April 22nd 2024

A Day Late- Elvis Costello Watching The Detectives from 1977 Appeared on a compilation of B Sides and demos - 10 Bloody Marys and 10 How's Your Fathers
Track listing
All songs written by Elvis Costello except as indicated.
Side one
"Clean Money" (previously unreleased) - 1:57
"Girls Talk" (B-side of "I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down", 1980) - 1:56
"Talking in the Dark" (B-side of "Accidents Will Happen", 1979) - 1:56
"Radio Sweetheart" (B-side of "Less Than Zero", 1977) - 2:24
"Big Tears" (B-side of "Pump It Up", 1978) - 3:10
"Crawling to the USA" (from soundtrack to Americathon, 1979) - 2:52
"Just a Memory" (B-side of "New Amsterdam", 1980) - 2:14
"Watching the Detectives" (non-album single, 1977) - 3:43
"Stranger in the House" (non-album single, 1978) - 3:01
"Clowntime Is Over" (Version 2, B-side of "High Fidelity", 1980) - 3:44

Side two
"Getting Mighty Crowded" (Van McCoy) (B-side of "High Fidelity", 1980) - 2:05
"Hoover Factory" (previously unreleased) - 1:43
"Tiny Steps" (B-side of "Radio, Radio", 1978) - 2:42
"(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding" (Nick Lowe) - 3:31
"Dr. Luther's Assistant" (B-side of "New Amsterdam", 1980) - 3:28
"Radio, Radio" (non-album single, 1978) - 3:04
"Black and White World (No. 2)" (previously unreleased) - 1:51
"Wednesday Week" (B-side of "Accidents Will Happen", 1978) - 2:02
"My Funny Valentine" (Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart) (B-side of "Oliver's Army", 1979) - 1:25
"Ghost Train" (B-side of "New Amsterdam", 1980) - 3:05
Lyric
"Watching The Detectives"

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
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
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
Watching the detectives...