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Matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and dogs  

 

           C

1. He painted Salford's smokey tops

          Am

    on cardboard boxes from the shops

              A                                                      Dm

    and parts of Ancoats where I used to play.

           Dm                

    I'm sure he once walked down our street

                      C

    ‘cause he painted kids who had nowt on their feet,

             G                                                              C  Am   Dm G

    the clothes we wore had all seen better days.

 

                        C

2. Now, they said his works of art were dull,

          Am

    no room, all round the walls are full

             A                                             Dm

    but Lowry didn't care much anyway.

              Dm

    They said he just paints cats and dogs,

             C

    and matchstalk men in boots and clogs,

             G                                                       C      - G

    and Lowry said that's just the way they'll stay.

 

                               C                                                                      F

And he painted matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and dogs,

                     G                                                                                      C

he painted kids on the corner of the street with the sparking clogs.

                 C                                                Dm                          

Now he takes his brush and he waits outside them factory gates,

                      G                                                                        C

to paint his matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and dogs.

 

               C

3. Now, canvas and brushes were wearing thin

               Am

    when London started calling him

           A                                                              Dm

    to come on down and wear the old flat cap.

                       Dm

    They said, tell us all about your ways

            C

    and all about them Salford days,

             G                                         C       G

    is it true you're just an ordinary chap ?

 

                      + CHORUS

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     C

4. Now Lowries hang upon the wall

        Am

    beside the greatest of them all

             A                                             Dm

    and even the Mona Lisa takes a bow.

             Dm

    This tired old man with hair like snow

             C

    told northern folk its time to go,

              G                                                                    C        - G

    the fever came and the good Lord mopped his brow.

 

                          C                                                              F

And he left us matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and dogs,

                 G                                                                      C

he left us kids on the corner of the street with sparking clogs.

              C                                                Dm

Now he takes his brush and he waits outside them pearly gates,

                     G                                                              C

to paint his matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and dogs.

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