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Watching The Detectives

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Aminor

90BPM

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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            Watching the Detectives
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ARTIST: Elvis Costello
ALBUM: My Aim is True
YEAR: 1977
CAPO 0
TUNING standard
[INTRO]
Riff x2
e:||-Am---------------------F----------------------Am---------------------F----------------|
B:||---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G:||---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D:||---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A:||---------0--2vvvvv-----3--2--3----------------------0--2vvvvv----3--2--3---------|
E:||-0h1h3----------------------------1vvvvv-----0h1h3------------------------1vvvvv-|
 Rhythm comes in 2nd bass
   Am   F   Am   F
[VERSE 1]
 AmNice girls, not one with a defect
 FCellophane shrink-wrapped, so correctG  
 AmRed dogs under illegal Flegs
 AmShe looks so good that he gets down and FbegsAm  
[CHORUS 1]                         
 She is Cwatching the detectives
 "Ooh, hGe's so cute"
 She is Cwatching the detectives
 GWhen they shoot, Emshoot, Fshoot, Dshoot
 AmThey beat him up until the teardrops startG  
 FBut he can't be wounded 'cause he's got no CheartG  
[VERSE 2]
 AmLong shot at that jumping signG  
 FInvisible shivers running down my spineG  
 AmCut to baby taking off her clothesG  
 FClose-up of the sign that says "We never close"
[VERSE 3]
 AmHe snatched at you and you match his cigaretteG  
 FShe pulls the eyes out with a face like a magnet
 AmI don't know how much more of this FI can take
 AmShe's filing her nails while they're Fdragging the lake
[CHORUS 2]              
 She is wCatching the detectives
 "Ooh, heG's so cute"
 CShe is watching the detectives
 GWhen they shoot, Emshoot, Fshoot, Dshoot
 AmThey beat him up until the teardrops startG  
 FBut he can't be wounded 'cause he's got no CheartG  
[VERSE 4]
 AmYou think you're alone until you realize you're in it
 Now Ffear is here to stay, love is here for a visit
 AmCall it instant justice when it's past the legal limit
 FSomeone's scratching at the window, I wonder who is it?
[VERSE 5]
 The Amdetectives come to check if you belong to the parents
 Who are Fready to hear the worst about their daughter's disappearance
        (  G)    Am  
 Though it nearly took a miracle to get you to stay
         N.C.                                C  
 It only took my little fingers to blow you away
[CHORUS 3]          
 Just like Gwatching the detectives
 CDon't get cute
 It's just like Gwatching the detectives
 AmI get so angry when the teardrops startG  
 FBut he can't be wounded 'cause he's got no Cheart
 GWatching the detectives
ENDING]
Am
 It's just like Fwatching the detectives
 AmWatching the detectives
 FWatching the detectives
 AmWatching the detectives
 FWatching the detectives 
(REPEAT AND FADE)

All chords in this song (6)

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Watching The Detectives

by Elvis Costello

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Watching the Detectives

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ARTIST: Elvis Costello

ALBUM: My Aim is True

YEAR: 1977

CAPO 0

TUNING standard

[INTRO]

Riff x2

Am F Am F

e:||---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

B:||---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

G:||---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

D:||---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

A:||---------0--2vvvvv-----3--2--3----------------------0--2vvvvv----3--2--3---------|

E:||-0h1h3----------------------------1vvvvv-----0h1h3------------------------1vvvvv-|

Rhythm comes in 2nd bass

Am F Am F

[VERSE 1]

Nice girls, not one with a defect

F G

Cellophane shrink-wrapped, so correct

Am F

Red dogs under illegal legs

Am F Am

She looks so good that he gets down and begs

[CHORUS 1]

She is watching the detectives

"Ooh, he's so cute"

She is watching the detectives

G Em F D

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

[VERSE 2]

Am G

Long shot at that jumping sign

F G

Invisible shivers running down my spine

Am G

Cut to baby taking off her clothes

Close-up of the sign that says "We never close"

[VERSE 3]

Am G

He snatched at you and you match his cigarette

She pulls the eyes out with a face like a magnet

Am F

I don't know how much more of this I can take

Am F

She's filing her nails while they're dragging the lake

[CHORUS 2]

She is watching the detectives

"Ooh, he's so cute"

She is watching the detectives

G Em F D

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

[VERSE 4]

You think you're alone until you realize you're in it

Now fear is here to stay, love is here for a visit

Call it instant justice when it's past the legal limit

Someone's scratching at the window, I wonder who is it?

[VERSE 5]

The detectives come to check if you belong to the parents

Who are ready to hear the worst about their daughter's disappearance

G Am

( )

Though it nearly took a miracle to get you to stay

N.C.

It only took my little fingers to blow you away

[CHORUS 3]

Just like watching the detectives

Don't get cute

It's just like watching the detectives

Am G

I get so angry when the teardrops start

F C

But he can't be wounded 'cause he's got no heart

Watching the detectives

ENDING]

It's just like watching the detectives

Watching the detectives

(REPEAT AND FADE)

About Watching The Detectives Chords by Elvis Costello

Learn how to play Watching The Detectives by Elvis Costello with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Watching The Detectives chords”, “Watching The Detectives guitar chords”, or “Elvis Costello Watching The Detectives chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Watching The Detectives chords and for experienced players who want accurate Watching The Detectives lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Am, F, B, G, D, A.

FAQ — Watching The Detectives by Elvis Costello

How do I play "Watching The Detectives" by Elvis Costello on guitar?

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Can I transpose "Watching The Detectives" to a different key?

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Is "Watching The Detectives" easy to play on guitar?

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What key is "Watching The Detectives" in?

The chords for "Watching The Detectives" show the original chord names (including Am, F, B, G, D, A). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.