Matchstalk men and matchstalk
cats and dogs (1978)
C
1. He painted Salford's smokey tops
Am
on
cardboard boxes from the shops
A A7
Dm
and
parts of Ancoats where I used to play.
F
I'm sure he once walked down
our street
C
‘cause
he painted kids who had nowt on their feet,
G
C - F - 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 A7 Dm
but
Lowry didn't care much anyway.
F
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 F Dm
Now he takes his brush and he waits outside them factory gates,
G
G7 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 A7 Dm
to
come on down and wear the old flat cap.
F
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
C
4. Now Lowries hang upon the wall
Am
beside
the greatest of them all
A A7
Dm
and
even the Mona Lisa takes a bow.
F
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 F Dm
Now he takes his brush and he waits outside them pearly gates,
G G7
C
to paint his matchstalk
men and matchstalk cats and dogs.
+ repeat last CHORUS in D - G - A
(3x) ....
(Brian and Michael)