 My Aim Is True (1977) [ larger cover art ] |
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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, it's so cute
She's 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
Invisible shivers running down my spine
Cut to baby taking off her clothes
Closeup of the sign that says "we never close"
You snatch a tune and you match a cigarette
She pulls your 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
Oh, he's so cute
She is watching the detectives
Oh, and 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 baby's 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
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
Watching the detectives
Watching the detectives
...
| ddbz (The Midwest) | Posted: May 15, 2013 - 16:14 OK, after the 20th time hearing this song on this radio station I have begun to wonder if the proprietor of this station is married? I very much enjoy this song and if this song is played for "someone" else I am all for it! all the best to all and play it again. |
| davewski | Posted: Mar 13, 2013 - 22:21 I just love the ambiance of this song. Brings back a lot of good times... |
| joelbb | Posted: Feb 10, 2013 - 13:42 The first big hit from an enormous talent and the only Film Noir pop tune ever recorded to my knowledge. This cut is an all-time RnR masterpiece. Gave it a 9. |
| oldsaxon (Wales via Vancouver, BC.) | Posted: Nov 08, 2012 - 11:49 kcar wrote: I remember watching that too...not fully engaged (who is this manic geek) and being sleepily puzzled as to why the hell he wouldn't play the song? All-knowing Uncle Wikipedia explains...Frankly, I don't think Americans watching were going to link "Less Than Zero" to Oswald Mosley, so Elvis might have made the right call. I sure didn't until I looked at the Wikipedia piece; like a lot of guys, I admittedly don't listen carefully to lyrics. As for SNL banning Elvis for x years: assclowns. Lighten up: the unrehearsed and chaotic make shows like that fun. I saw that show...f**kin brilliant...loved him ever since. |
| kcar | Posted: Nov 07, 2012 - 00:16 coloradojohn wrote: Another mighty blast from the past catches up with us on good old RP... I can never forget how I was first introduced to this song, this guy and his wacky new sound... Watching SNL, '77, back in the day — this nerdy gawky sweaty pigeon-toed dude comes on with Buddy Holly specs and Fender Jag guitar and tight stove-pipe jeans with the cuffs turned up hideously high (weirdly enough, bell bottoms were the norm then!). He herks and jerks around the stage spastically then grabs the mike and wraps around it and snarls something like, "Nhuh we're not gonna do THAT one...we're gonna do THIS one instead," and HE FREAKED THE WATCHING WORLD RIGHT OUT WITH IT! Next day at high school, we're all imitating the pigeon-toed pose and sneering the wicked, twisted lyrics, "and she is WATCHING the de-TEC-TIVES!" and the teachers are giving us the same sort of stunned and quizzical looks we'd first given Mr. Declan MacManus on the tube the night before...and we sure DUG IT! I remember watching that too...not fully engaged (who is this manic geek) and being sleepily puzzled as to why the hell he wouldn't play the song? All-knowing Uncle Wikipedia explains...Frankly, I don't think Americans watching were going to link "Less Than Zero" to Oswald Mosley, so Elvis might have made the right call. I sure didn't until I looked at the Wikipedia piece; like a lot of guys, I admittedly don't listen carefully to lyrics. As for SNL banning Elvis for x years: assclowns. Lighten up: the unrehearsed and chaotic make shows like that fun. |
| gemtag (Texas) | Posted: Oct 23, 2012 - 12:21 Byronape wrote: Yeah, I agree there. Irony is good, snarky is good, but to be ironically snarky while projecting an image that I'm not cool enough to be part of the "in crowd" anyway does not give me any reason to want to listen. I just have no idea what this means. Either you were absent in 77 or you were listening elsewhere to something I would not go near. |
| lily34 (GTFO) | Posted: Oct 23, 2012 - 12:14 karljonasson wrote: Well, except the song he did instead was 'Radio Radio' off his This Year's Model album. The producers at SNL banned him from the show for decades for that stunt. i THOUGHT that was the song i remembered!  i remember it was a super uptempo and i was about to say "wasn't it radio radio" as some kind of slam to producers or something - is why he did it? i can't recall... |
| karljonasson (Edmonton, AB, Canada) | Posted: Oct 23, 2012 - 12:12 coloradojohn wrote: Another mighty blast from the past catches up with us on good old RP... I can never forget how I was first introduced to this song, this guy and his wacky new sound... Watching SNL, '77, back in the day — this nerdy gawky sweaty pigeon-toed dude comes on with Buddy Holly specs and Fender Jag guitar and tight stove-pipe jeans with the cuffs turned up hideously high (weirdly enough, bell bottoms were the norm then!). He herks and jerks around the stage spastically then grabs the mike and wraps around it and snarls something like, "Nhuh we're not gonna do THAT one...we're gonna do THIS one instead," and HE FREAKED THE WATCHING WORLD RIGHT OUT WITH IT! Next day at high school, we're all imitating the pigeon-toed pose and sneering the wicked, twisted lyrics, "and she is WATCHING the de-TEC-TIVES!" and the teachers are giving us the same sort of stunned and quizzical looks we'd first given Mr. Declan MacManus on the tube the night before...and we sure DUG IT! Well, except the song he did instead was 'Radio Radio' off his This Year's Model album. The producers at SNL banned him from the show for decades for that stunt. |
| lily34 (GTFO) | Posted: Oct 23, 2012 - 12:10 damn, i love this. |
| coloradojohn (A Mile High and then some, Cherry Creek, Denver) | Posted: Sep 21, 2012 - 23:47 Another mighty blast from the past catches up with us on good old RP... I can never forget how I was first introduced to this song, this guy and his wacky new sound... Watching SNL, '77, back in the day — this nerdy gawky sweaty pigeon-toed dude comes on with Buddy Holly specs and Fender Jag guitar and tight stove-pipe jeans with the cuffs turned up hideously high (weirdly enough, bell bottoms were the norm then!). He herks and jerks around the stage spastically then grabs the mike and wraps around it and snarls something like, "Nhuh we're not gonna do THAT one...we're gonna do THIS one instead," and HE FREAKED THE WATCHING WORLD RIGHT OUT WITH IT! Next day at high school, we're all imitating the pigeon-toed pose and sneering the wicked, twisted lyrics, "and she is WATCHING the de-TEC-TIVES!" and the teachers are giving us the same sort of stunned and quizzical looks we'd first given Mr. Declan MacManus on the tube the night before...and we sure DUG IT! |
| nagsheadlocal (North Carolina, the new New Jersey) | Posted: Sep 06, 2012 - 13:25 1977 - the year I abandoned grad school and took a third-shift job, where I was able to play a local radio station whose overnight DJ played Elvis Costello, XTC, Nick Lowe, etc. Thanks, Pat P., wherever you are! |
| slate_dk (Denmark) | Posted: Jul 21, 2012 - 02:23 Classic. Listening to the older Elvis C always brings back memories of Warm Guns; a danish band inspired by Elvis C. Especially their album "Hard luck" "Bedtime story" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqkHy3xNypU hmm cut short by a minute "The young go first" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4vfl3vnBiA hideous video, but that was how it was back then |
| coding_to_music (Beantown) | Posted: Jul 05, 2012 - 15:16 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watching_The_Detectives_(song) The single, produced by Nick Lowe, was the first to be credited to 'Elvis Costello & the Attractions', reflecting the new backing band that he was using, previous releases being credited solely to the singer.<7> The lead track was, in fact, recorded in May 1977, before the Attractions existed - the backing band on the song were Steve Goulding on drums and Andrew Bodnar on bass guitar, both from Graham Parker's band, The Rumour.<8> Keyboard overdubs were added later by Steve Nason (later better-known as Steve Nieve).<8> It was also the first top 40 hit in the UK Singles Chart for Costello, reaching #15 and spending a total of eleven weeks in the chart.<7><9> Andrew Bodnar on bass guitar |
| lemmoth (NYC) | Posted: May 01, 2012 - 13:51 Pure Genius |
| Kaisersosay (Mighty Mighty Bostown) | Posted: May 01, 2012 - 13:51 Love Elvis,,,,or I should say the Elvi.. |
| Byronape ("post-capitalist wreckageville") | Posted: Mar 30, 2012 - 20:42 Sorcha wrote: My comment is sure to be trashed, but here goes: Yeah, I agree there. Irony is good, snarky is good, but to be ironically snarky while projecting an image that I'm not cool enough to be part of the "in crowd" anyway does not give me any reason to want to listen. |
| lemmoth (NYC) | Posted: Jan 27, 2012 - 12:14 WonderLizard wrote: Most critics think The Attractions, EC's band after this album, was his best. Hmm. Don't know if he'd have gained any traction if My Aim Is True had bombed. Clover, a group from Mill Valley, CA, backed him on My Aim courtesy of Nick Lowe, who'd brought them over to England to record. Clover was Huey Lewis's band by then, but he doesn't appear on My Aim. Sean Hopper, later starting The News with Lewis, and John McFee, long time Doobie Brother, do. As a long time Elvis fan, I can appreciate the work of the boys from Clover on MAIT but.........I would put Steve Nieve and Pete Thomas up against anyone in their generation on their respective instruments. |
| Cloudbusting (Australia) | Posted: Jan 27, 2012 - 12:12 Love Elvis..all class |
| johnjconn (chicago land) | Posted: Jan 27, 2012 - 12:11 Elvis , the King of Punk Great album Great song Great glasses |
| hubcapsally (Peeyay) | Posted: Jan 27, 2012 - 12:10 THE REAL ELVIS!  |
| WonderLizard (2,755.46 mi. due east of Paradise) | Posted: Dec 28, 2011 - 06:05 WonderLizard wrote: Most critics think The Attractions, EC's band after this album, was his best. Hmm. Don't know if he'd have gained any traction if My Aim Is True had bombed. Clover, a group from Mill Valley, CA, backed him on My Aim courtesy of Nick Lowe, who'd brought them over to England to record. Clover was Huey Lewis's band by then, but he doesn't appear on My Aim. Sean Hopper, later starting The News with Lewis, and John McFee, long time Doobie Brother, do. That's Andrew Bodnar playing the incredible bass on this track. Clover's bassist, Johnny Ciambotti, sat out. |
| Baby_M (a 100+-year old building in downtown Akron, Ohio) | Posted: Dec 28, 2011 - 06:01 Sorcha wrote: My comment is sure to be trashed, but here goes: For the most part, I agree with you, but on this particular song, that sneery, snarky tone actually works. |
| terrapin52 (Terrapin Station, SC) | Posted: Nov 26, 2011 - 12:21 Nice seque from Secret Agent Man. I detect a theme. |
| WonderLizard (2,755.46 mi. due east of Paradise) | Posted: Nov 10, 2011 - 09:44 Most critics think The Attractions, EC's band after this album, was his best. Hmm. Don't know if he'd have gained any traction if My Aim Is True had bombed. Clover, a group from Mill Valley, CA, backed him on My Aim courtesy of Nick Lowe, who'd brought them over to England to record. Clover was Huey Lewis's band by then, but he doesn't appear on My Aim. Sean Hopper, later starting The News with Lewis, and John McFee, long time Doobie Brother, do. |
| nagsheadlocal (North Carolina, the new New Jersey) | Posted: Nov 10, 2011 - 08:27 Wow - 1977. The world was awash in smooth "California sound" tunes and it was apparent that rock had slipped into one of its periodic comas. Then I heard this on a VERY early morning show (I was working third shift) and realized that if this could get out of the dead hours of radio play, it just might herald a change in the musical weather. |
| bachbeet | Posted: Oct 25, 2011 - 21:45 One of my faves of his. |
| Sorcha (living in the Creative spaces in my mind....) | Posted: Oct 24, 2011 - 10:38 My comment is sure to be trashed, but here goes: |
| errantpenny (where the fog breaks) | Posted: Aug 22, 2011 - 09:00 This song is an instant time machine to a pivotal time in my youth. I made some interesting friends who introduced me to a whole new group of artists and new world of music—all I'd known before was pop radio. This album is definitely on my "Deserted Island 5" list. Elvis Costello - Watching The Detectives Bob Marley - War Rolling Stones - Can't You Hear Me Knocking I must admit, I don't see the theme here, unless it's that these three artist/bands are all icons. |
| ScottFromWyoming (Powell) | Posted: May 19, 2011 - 17:00 Cynaera wrote: Not to be a smartass or anything, but for anybody who wants to see what "absolute lack of original thought" looks like, check out macbags' song comments.  Wow no kidding! Don't take drugs, kids. |
| hencini | Posted: May 19, 2011 - 16:55 Warren and Elvis in the same hour!?! Truly these are glorious times!! |
| Poacher (Brighton, UK) | Posted: May 05, 2011 - 10:01 cirruss wrote: A lot of Costello these days on RP... not too sure what I think about that. I give thanks to the gods that Bill is not playing Presley. . . |
| Cynaera (South of Neanderthal) | Posted: Apr 19, 2011 - 16:27 macbags wrote: LOOKS LIKE THE PARADISE HAS WASHED AWAY Not to be a smartass or anything, but for anybody who wants to see what "absolute lack of original thought" looks like, check out macbags' song comments. |
| Dave_Mack (Kicking out the jams) | Posted: Mar 17, 2011 - 16:21 cirruss wrote: A lot of Costello these days on RP... not too sure what I think about that. Well, I think it's awesome, cause they've been excellent early stuff from Elvis. I wonder what the inspiration for this song was. Some weird pulp novel maybe? |
| cirruss (Curacao, Netherlands Antilles) | Posted: Feb 14, 2011 - 07:43 A lot of Costello these days on RP... not too sure what I think about that. |
| macbags (atlanta) | Posted: Jan 15, 2011 - 13:23 LOOKS LIKE THE PARADISE HAS WASHED AWAY |
| ParadiseStew (Los Angeles, CA) | Posted: Dec 13, 2010 - 14:34 Love Dr. John Ciambotti's bass lines in this song! Makes the song in my opinion! |
| Proclivities (Carrboro, NC) | Posted: Oct 21, 2010 - 07:54 slackpacker wrote: Anyone else love this song just because of the History Detectives on PBS?? I do like that program, but I've liked this song since the single came out back in 1977. |
| drjimmy | Posted: Oct 21, 2010 - 07:46 The only reason I can't give this a 10 is because that has to be reserved for live versions of this great song. |
| 93vx800 (Red Sox Nation) | Posted: Oct 21, 2010 - 07:44 Thank you, RP! |
| Jonathan_pa (Somewhere in the vastness of space) | Posted: Aug 25, 2010 - 15:20  |
| CoYoT51 (Lima, Perù - Reims, France) | Posted: Aug 18, 2010 - 14:02  G O D L I K E |
| slackpacker (Charleston SC) | Posted: Jul 17, 2010 - 15:51 Anyone else love this song just because of the History Detectives on PBS?? |
| Giselle62 (many bear, big rock, estuary California) | Posted: Jul 17, 2010 - 15:50 Three songs I absolutely love of his: "I don't wanna go to Chelsea" "Accidents will Happen" and this. This is numero uno for me. I also love several cover versions of "Peace, Love and Understanding" |
| 4merdj (donde el viento se devuelve) | Posted: May 06, 2010 - 10:39 Hehe! Nice fade-in after "Mr. Secret Man" ... the way this song entered with the drums after the previous one ended (which is the very definition of fade-in :-)) Although, of course, there is a considerable quality distance between Johnny Rivers and Mr. Costello  |
| katearhar (Denial Avenue... it's a great place to live for a short period of time) | Posted: May 06, 2010 - 10:39 Hmmmm... Why am I reminded of "Funky Poodle"? Just more fun music, I guess. |
| wenatchee (Duvall, WA) | Posted: May 06, 2010 - 10:36 Love how this rolls in |
| CamLwalk (Albany NY) | Posted: May 04, 2010 - 21:50 fredriley wrote: "red dogs under eagle eggs"?? Not the first mondegreen I've suffered with Declan McManus' work. No, it's "Red dogs under illegal legs." Her shoes are red. Cellophane wrapped, so correct Red dogs under illegal legs She looks so good that he gets down and begs. She's dressed really hot and looks really good. See. |
| fredriley (Nottingham, UK) | Posted: Apr 20, 2010 - 04:43 "red dogs under eagle eggs"?? Not the first mondegreen I've suffered with Declan McManus' work. |
| jessfine (exiled to Wisconsin) | Posted: Mar 19, 2010 - 14:37 Splendid. |
| lemmoth (NYC) | Posted: Mar 12, 2010 - 15:17 upgal wrote: awful as usual How much does a clue cost... I will send it to you |