Its Only Words: Private Eye by The Nips

Performed by The Nips
1978
Words and Music by Shane MacGowan

This little piece of braggadocio comes from The Nips (aka “The Nipple Erotors”), a feisty little bar band that played in and around London in the late seventies, best known for their high-energy blend of punk, rockabilly, mod, R&B, ted, indie, and a slew of other influences, and for their lead singer and chief songwriter, Shane MacGowan, who subsequently found fame (and infamy) with The Pogues.

My name is Doyle
And I’m a private eye
Listen here you fool
Don’t give me no alibi
I look in the door, I’m looking at you
All my friends are private eyes, too
You know you don’t mess around with me.

My name is Doyle, six foot three
You know you don’t mess around with me
My name is Doyle, my name is Doyle
Listen here, you fool
You don’t mess around with me

My name is Doyle, I’m a hard nut
If you get going though you know you’ll get caught
My name is Doyle, my name is Doyle
Listen here you fuck
You don’t mess around with me
Ow! Alright!

You know (you know) you don’t mess around
You know (you know) youdon’t mess around
You know (you know) you don’t mess around with me

You know (you know) you don’t mess around
You know (you know) you don’t mess around
You know (you know) you don’t mess around with me
Alright!

You know (you know) you don’t mess around
You know (you know) you don’t mess around
You know (you know) you don’t mess around with me
One more time!

You know (you know) you don’t mess around
You know (you know) you don’t mess around
You know (you know) you don’t mess around with me
Yeah Yeah Yeah.

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Lyrics respectfully swiped from Licensed To Cool, an unofficial site dedicated to The Nips (aka “The Nipple Erectors”).

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