Matchstalk Men And Matchstalk Cats And Dogs Lyrics And Chords
Matchstalk Men And Matchstalk Cats And Dogs Lyrics And Easy Guitar Chords. Brian And Michael 1978. There's a version of the guitar chords in chordpro in G with another in C Major. I know, it's not an Irish song but it goes down well at sessions and I like to sing it. I have included a couple of different versions of the guitar chords including the version that Brian And Michael play the song in. If the chords don't suit you then change the chords here .
The tin whistle sheet music and piano letter notes are in my PDF Ebook which is available on this site,
The tin whistle sheet music and piano letter notes are in my PDF Ebook which is available on this site,
Song Words And Easy Guitar Chords In G Major Key
He[G] painted Salford's smokey tops
On[D] cardboard boxes from the shops
And[Em] parts of ancoats where I used to[Am] play
I'm[C] sure he once walked down our street
Cause he[G] painted kids who had nowt on their feet
The[D] clothes we wore had all see better[G] days
Now they said his works of art were dull
No room all round the walls are full
But Lowry didn't care much anyway
They said he just paints cats and dogs
And matchstalk men in boots and clogs
And Lowry said that's just the way they'll stay
And[G] he painted matchstalk men and matchstalk[C] cats and dogs
He painted[D] kids on the corner of the street that were sparking[G] clogs
Now he takes his brush and he waits outside them factory[C] gates
To paint his[D] matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and [G]dogs
Now canvas and brushes were wearing thin
When London started calling him
To come on down and wear the old flat cap
They said tell us all about your ways
And all about them Salford days
Is it true you're just an ordinary chap
And he painted matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and dogs
He painted kids on the corner of the street that were sparking clogs
Now he takes his brush and he waits outside them factory gates
To paint his matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and dogs
Now Lowry's hang upon the wall
Beside the greatest of them all
And even the Mona Lisa takes a bow
This tired old man with hair like snow
Told northern folk its time to go
The fever came and the good Lord mopped his brow
And he left us matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and dogs
He left us kids on the corner of the street that were sparking clogs
Now he takes his brush and he waits outside them pearly gates
To paint his matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and dogs
And he left us matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and dogs
He left us kids on the corner of the street that were sparking clogs
Now he takes his brush and he waits outside them pearly gates
To paint his matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and dogs
And he left us matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and dogs
He left us kids on the corner of the street that were sparking clogs
Now he takes his brush and he waits outside them pearly gates
To paint his matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and dogs
And he left us matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and dogs
He left us kids on the corner of the street that were sparking clogs
Now he takes his brush and he waits outside them pearly gates
To paint his matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and dogs
He[G] painted Salford's smokey tops
On[D] cardboard boxes from the shops
And[Em] parts of ancoats where I used to[Am] play
I'm[C] sure he once walked down our street
Cause he[G] painted kids who had nowt on their feet
The[D] clothes we wore had all see better[G] days
Now they said his works of art were dull
No room all round the walls are full
But Lowry didn't care much anyway
They said he just paints cats and dogs
And matchstalk men in boots and clogs
And Lowry said that's just the way they'll stay
And[G] he painted matchstalk men and matchstalk[C] cats and dogs
He painted[D] kids on the corner of the street that were sparking[G] clogs
Now he takes his brush and he waits outside them factory[C] gates
To paint his[D] matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and [G]dogs
Now canvas and brushes were wearing thin
When London started calling him
To come on down and wear the old flat cap
They said tell us all about your ways
And all about them Salford days
Is it true you're just an ordinary chap
And he painted matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and dogs
He painted kids on the corner of the street that were sparking clogs
Now he takes his brush and he waits outside them factory gates
To paint his matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and dogs
Now Lowry's hang upon the wall
Beside the greatest of them all
And even the Mona Lisa takes a bow
This tired old man with hair like snow
Told northern folk its time to go
The fever came and the good Lord mopped his brow
And he left us matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and dogs
He left us kids on the corner of the street that were sparking clogs
Now he takes his brush and he waits outside them pearly gates
To paint his matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and dogs
And he left us matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and dogs
He left us kids on the corner of the street that were sparking clogs
Now he takes his brush and he waits outside them pearly gates
To paint his matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and dogs
And he left us matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and dogs
He left us kids on the corner of the street that were sparking clogs
Now he takes his brush and he waits outside them pearly gates
To paint his matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and dogs
And he left us matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and dogs
He left us kids on the corner of the street that were sparking clogs
Now he takes his brush and he waits outside them pearly gates
To paint his matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and dogs
Here’s a complete arrangement in G major, written for solo acoustic guitar in an easy folk style.
🎵 Key: G major
Tempo: ~90 bpm (gentle swing feel)
Time Signature: 4/4
Style: Folk ballad
🎸 MATCHSTALK MEN & MATCHSTALK CATS & DOGSFingerpicking – Lyrics above tabs – 3 bars per line
⭐ VERSE 1“He painted Salford’s smokey tops…”
Play once or twice as an intro before singing.
He painted Salford's smokey tops
e|------3-------3-------|------2-------2-------|------0-------0-------|
B|----0-------0---------|----3-------3---------|----0-------0---------|
G|--0-------0-----------|--2-------2-----------|--0-------0-----------|
D|----------------------|0-------0-------------|2-------2-------------|
A|2-------2-------------|----------------------|2-------2-------------|
E|3-------3-------------|----------------------|0-------0-------------|
G D Em
On cardboard boxes from the shops
e|------0-------0-------|------3-------3-------|------3-------3-------|
B|----1-------1---------|----0-------0---------|----1-------1---------|
G|--2-------2-----------|--0-------0-----------|--0-------0-----------|
D|2-------2-------------|----------------------|2-------2-------------|
A|0-------0-------------|2-------2-------------|3-------3-------------|
E|----------------------|3-------3-------------|-----------------------|
Am C G
⭐ VERSE 1 (continued)
“And parts of Ancoats where I used to play…”
markdown
Copy code
And parts of Ancoats where I used to play
e|------2-------2-------|------0-------0-------|------3-------3-------|
B|----3-------3---------|----0-------0---------|----0-------0---------|
G|--2-------2-----------|--0-------0-----------|--0-------0-----------|
D|0-------0-------------|2-------2-------------|-----------------------|
A|----------------------|2-------2-------------|2-------2-------------|
E|----------------------|0-------0-------------|3-------3-------------|
D Em G
I'm sure he once walked down our street
e|------0-------0-------|------3-------3-------|------3-------3-------|
B|----1-------1---------|----0-------0---------|----1-------1---------|
G|--2-------2-----------|--0-------0-----------|--0-------0-----------|
D|2-------2-------------|----------------------|2-------2-------------|
A|0-------0-------------|2-------2-------------|3-------3-------------|
E|----------------------|3-------3-------------|-----------------------|
Am G C
⭐ VERSE 1 (continued)
“Cause he painted kids who had nowt on their feet…”
markdown
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Cause he painted kids who had nowt on their feet
e|------3-------3-------|------2-------2-------|------3-------3-------|
B|----0-------0---------|----3-------3---------|----0-------0---------|
G|--0-------0-----------|--2-------2-----------|--0-------0-----------|
D|----------------------|0-------0-------------|-----------------------|
A|2-------2-------------|----------------------|2-------2-------------|
E|3-------3-------------|----------------------|3-------3-------------|
G D G
The clothes we wore had all seen better days
e|------2-------2-------|------0-------0-------|------3-------3-------|
B|----3-------3---------|----0-------0---------|----0-------0---------|
G|--2-------2-----------|--0-------0-----------|--0-------0-----------|
D|0-------0-------------|2-------2-------------|-----------------------|
A|----------------------|2-------2-------------|2-------2-------------|
E|----------------------|0-------0-------------|3-------3-------------|
D Em G
⭐ VERSE 2
markdown
Copy code
Now they said his works of art were dull
e|------2-------2-------|------0-------0-------|------3-------3-------|
B|----3-------3---------|----0-------0---------|----0-------0---------|
G|--2-------2-----------|--0-------0-----------|--0-------0-----------|
D|0-------0-------------|2-------2-------------|-----------------------|
A|----------------------|2-------2-------------|2-------2-------------|
E|----------------------|0-------0-------------|3-------3-------------|
D Em G
No room all round the walls are full
e|------0-------0-------|------3-------3-------|------3-------3-------|
B|----1-------1---------|----0-------0---------|----1-------1---------|
G|--2-------2-----------|--0-------0-----------|--0-------0-----------|
D|2-------2-------------|----------------------|2-------2-------------|
A|0-------0-------------|2-------2-------------|3-------3-------------|
E|----------------------|3-------3-------------|-----------------------|
Am G C
⭐ VERSE 2 (continued)
markdown
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But Lowry didn't care much anyway
e|------3-------3-------|------2-------2-------|------3-------3-------|
B|----0-------0---------|----3-------3---------|----0-------0---------|
G|--0-------0-----------|--2-------2-----------|--0-------0-----------|
D|----------------------|0-------0-------------|-----------------------|
A|2-------2-------------|----------------------|2-------2-------------|
E|3-------3-------------|----------------------|3-------3-------------|
G D G
They said he just paints cats and dogs
e|------0-------0-------|------3-------3-------|------0-------0-------|
B|----1-------1---------|----0-------0---------|----3-------3---------|
G|--2-------2-----------|--0-------0-----------|--2-------2-----------|
D|2-------2-------------|----------------------|0-------0-------------|
A|0-------0-------------|2-------2-------------|------------------------|
E|----------------------|3-------3-------------|------------------------|
Am G Em
⭐ VERSE 2 (final)
markdown
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And matchstalk men in boots and clogs
e|------1-------1-------|------3-------3-------|------3-------3-------|
B|----1-------1---------|----0-------0---------|----1-------1---------|
G|--2-------2-----------|--0-------0-----------|--0-------0-----------|
D|3-------3-------------|----------------------|2-------2-------------|
A|3-------3-------------|2-------2-------------|3-------3-------------|
E|----------------------|3-------3-------------|-----------------------|
C G C
And Lowry said that's just the way they'll stay
e|------3-------3-------|------2-------2-------|------3-------3-------|
B|----0-------0---------|----3-------3---------|----0-------0---------|
G|--0-------0-----------|--2-------2-----------|--0-------0-----------|
D|----------------------|0-------0-------------|-----------------------|
A|2-------2-------------|----------------------|2-------2-------------|
E|3-------3-------------|----------------------|3-------3-------------|
G D G
⭐ CHORUS
markdown
Copy code
And he painted matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and dogs
e|------3-------3-------|------0-------0-------|------3-------3-------|
B|----0-------0---------|----1-------1---------|----0-------0---------|
G|--0-------0-----------|--0-------0-----------|--0-------0-----------|
D|----------------------|2-------2-------------|-----------------------|
A|2-------2-------------|3-------3-------------|2-------2-------------|
E|3-------3-------------|----------------------|3-------3-------------|
G C G
He painted kids on the corner of the street that were sparking clogs
e|------2-------2-------|------3-------3-------|------3-------3-------|
B|----3-------3---------|----0-------0---------|----1-------1---------|
G|--2-------2-----------|--0-------0-----------|--0-------0-----------|
D|0-------0-------------|----------------------|2-------2-------------|
A|----------------------|2-------2-------------|3-------3-------------|
E|----------------------|3-------3-------------|-----------------------|
D G C
⭐ CHORUS (final line)
markdown
Copy code
To paint his matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and dogs
e|------2-------2-------|------3-------3-------|------3-------3-------|
B|----3-------3---------|----0-------0---------|----0-------0---------|
G|--2-------2-----------|--0-------0-----------|--0-------0-----------|
D|0-------0-------------|----------------------|-----------------------|
A|----------------------|2-------2-------------|2-------2-------------|
E|----------------------|3-------3-------------|3-------3-------------|
D G G
🎶 Full Lyrics with Chords
Verse 1
He [G]painted Salford's smokey tops
On [D]cardboard boxes from the shops
And [Em]parts of Ancoats where I used to [Am]play
I'm [C]sure he once walked down our street
'Cause he [G]painted kids who had nowt on their feet
The [D]clothes we wore had all seen better [G]days.
Verse 2
Now they [G]said his works of art were dull
No [D]room, all round the walls are full
But [Em]Lowry didn't care much any[Am]way
They [C]said he just paints cats and dogs
And [G]matchstalk men in boots and clogs
And [D]Lowry said, "That's just the way they'll [G]stay."
🎵 Chorus
And he [G]painted matchstalk men and matchstalk [C]cats and dogs
He painted [D]kids on the corner of the street that were sparkin' [G]clogs
Now he [G]takes his brush and he waits outside them factory [C]gates
To paint his [D]matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and [G]dogs.
Verse 3
Now [G]canvas and brushes were wearing thin
When [D]London started calling him
To [Em]come on down and wear the old flat [Am]cap
They [C]said, "Tell us all about your ways
And [G]all about them Salford days,
Is it [D]true you're just an ordinary [G]chap?"
(Chorus repeats)
Verse 4
Now [G]Lowry's hang upon the wall
Be[D]side the greatest of them all
And [Em]even the Mona Lisa takes a [Am]bow
This [C]tired old man with hair like snow
Told [G]northern folk, "It's time to go"
The [D]fever came and the good Lord mopped his [G]brow.
(Chorus repeats)
Final Choruses (x2 or fade out)
And he [G]left us matchstalk men and matchstalk [C]cats and dogs
He left us [D]kids on the corner of the street that were sparkin' [G]clogs
Now he [G]takes his brush and he waits outside them pearly [C]gates
To paint his [D]matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and [G]dogs.
Repeat 2–3 times, slowing slightly at the very end.
💡 Optional Ending
For a tender finish, fingerpick the last line softly:
To paint his matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and dogs...
Then end with a single open G chord (let it ring).
🎵 Key: G major
Tempo: ~90 bpm (gentle swing feel)
Time Signature: 4/4
Style: Folk ballad
🎸 MATCHSTALK MEN & MATCHSTALK CATS & DOGSFingerpicking – Lyrics above tabs – 3 bars per line
⭐ VERSE 1“He painted Salford’s smokey tops…”
Play once or twice as an intro before singing.
He painted Salford's smokey tops
e|------3-------3-------|------2-------2-------|------0-------0-------|
B|----0-------0---------|----3-------3---------|----0-------0---------|
G|--0-------0-----------|--2-------2-----------|--0-------0-----------|
D|----------------------|0-------0-------------|2-------2-------------|
A|2-------2-------------|----------------------|2-------2-------------|
E|3-------3-------------|----------------------|0-------0-------------|
G D Em
On cardboard boxes from the shops
e|------0-------0-------|------3-------3-------|------3-------3-------|
B|----1-------1---------|----0-------0---------|----1-------1---------|
G|--2-------2-----------|--0-------0-----------|--0-------0-----------|
D|2-------2-------------|----------------------|2-------2-------------|
A|0-------0-------------|2-------2-------------|3-------3-------------|
E|----------------------|3-------3-------------|-----------------------|
Am C G
⭐ VERSE 1 (continued)
“And parts of Ancoats where I used to play…”
markdown
Copy code
And parts of Ancoats where I used to play
e|------2-------2-------|------0-------0-------|------3-------3-------|
B|----3-------3---------|----0-------0---------|----0-------0---------|
G|--2-------2-----------|--0-------0-----------|--0-------0-----------|
D|0-------0-------------|2-------2-------------|-----------------------|
A|----------------------|2-------2-------------|2-------2-------------|
E|----------------------|0-------0-------------|3-------3-------------|
D Em G
I'm sure he once walked down our street
e|------0-------0-------|------3-------3-------|------3-------3-------|
B|----1-------1---------|----0-------0---------|----1-------1---------|
G|--2-------2-----------|--0-------0-----------|--0-------0-----------|
D|2-------2-------------|----------------------|2-------2-------------|
A|0-------0-------------|2-------2-------------|3-------3-------------|
E|----------------------|3-------3-------------|-----------------------|
Am G C
⭐ VERSE 1 (continued)
“Cause he painted kids who had nowt on their feet…”
markdown
Copy code
Cause he painted kids who had nowt on their feet
e|------3-------3-------|------2-------2-------|------3-------3-------|
B|----0-------0---------|----3-------3---------|----0-------0---------|
G|--0-------0-----------|--2-------2-----------|--0-------0-----------|
D|----------------------|0-------0-------------|-----------------------|
A|2-------2-------------|----------------------|2-------2-------------|
E|3-------3-------------|----------------------|3-------3-------------|
G D G
The clothes we wore had all seen better days
e|------2-------2-------|------0-------0-------|------3-------3-------|
B|----3-------3---------|----0-------0---------|----0-------0---------|
G|--2-------2-----------|--0-------0-----------|--0-------0-----------|
D|0-------0-------------|2-------2-------------|-----------------------|
A|----------------------|2-------2-------------|2-------2-------------|
E|----------------------|0-------0-------------|3-------3-------------|
D Em G
⭐ VERSE 2
markdown
Copy code
Now they said his works of art were dull
e|------2-------2-------|------0-------0-------|------3-------3-------|
B|----3-------3---------|----0-------0---------|----0-------0---------|
G|--2-------2-----------|--0-------0-----------|--0-------0-----------|
D|0-------0-------------|2-------2-------------|-----------------------|
A|----------------------|2-------2-------------|2-------2-------------|
E|----------------------|0-------0-------------|3-------3-------------|
D Em G
No room all round the walls are full
e|------0-------0-------|------3-------3-------|------3-------3-------|
B|----1-------1---------|----0-------0---------|----1-------1---------|
G|--2-------2-----------|--0-------0-----------|--0-------0-----------|
D|2-------2-------------|----------------------|2-------2-------------|
A|0-------0-------------|2-------2-------------|3-------3-------------|
E|----------------------|3-------3-------------|-----------------------|
Am G C
⭐ VERSE 2 (continued)
markdown
Copy code
But Lowry didn't care much anyway
e|------3-------3-------|------2-------2-------|------3-------3-------|
B|----0-------0---------|----3-------3---------|----0-------0---------|
G|--0-------0-----------|--2-------2-----------|--0-------0-----------|
D|----------------------|0-------0-------------|-----------------------|
A|2-------2-------------|----------------------|2-------2-------------|
E|3-------3-------------|----------------------|3-------3-------------|
G D G
They said he just paints cats and dogs
e|------0-------0-------|------3-------3-------|------0-------0-------|
B|----1-------1---------|----0-------0---------|----3-------3---------|
G|--2-------2-----------|--0-------0-----------|--2-------2-----------|
D|2-------2-------------|----------------------|0-------0-------------|
A|0-------0-------------|2-------2-------------|------------------------|
E|----------------------|3-------3-------------|------------------------|
Am G Em
⭐ VERSE 2 (final)
markdown
Copy code
And matchstalk men in boots and clogs
e|------1-------1-------|------3-------3-------|------3-------3-------|
B|----1-------1---------|----0-------0---------|----1-------1---------|
G|--2-------2-----------|--0-------0-----------|--0-------0-----------|
D|3-------3-------------|----------------------|2-------2-------------|
A|3-------3-------------|2-------2-------------|3-------3-------------|
E|----------------------|3-------3-------------|-----------------------|
C G C
And Lowry said that's just the way they'll stay
e|------3-------3-------|------2-------2-------|------3-------3-------|
B|----0-------0---------|----3-------3---------|----0-------0---------|
G|--0-------0-----------|--2-------2-----------|--0-------0-----------|
D|----------------------|0-------0-------------|-----------------------|
A|2-------2-------------|----------------------|2-------2-------------|
E|3-------3-------------|----------------------|3-------3-------------|
G D G
⭐ CHORUS
markdown
Copy code
And he painted matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and dogs
e|------3-------3-------|------0-------0-------|------3-------3-------|
B|----0-------0---------|----1-------1---------|----0-------0---------|
G|--0-------0-----------|--0-------0-----------|--0-------0-----------|
D|----------------------|2-------2-------------|-----------------------|
A|2-------2-------------|3-------3-------------|2-------2-------------|
E|3-------3-------------|----------------------|3-------3-------------|
G C G
He painted kids on the corner of the street that were sparking clogs
e|------2-------2-------|------3-------3-------|------3-------3-------|
B|----3-------3---------|----0-------0---------|----1-------1---------|
G|--2-------2-----------|--0-------0-----------|--0-------0-----------|
D|0-------0-------------|----------------------|2-------2-------------|
A|----------------------|2-------2-------------|3-------3-------------|
E|----------------------|3-------3-------------|-----------------------|
D G C
⭐ CHORUS (final line)
markdown
Copy code
To paint his matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and dogs
e|------2-------2-------|------3-------3-------|------3-------3-------|
B|----3-------3---------|----0-------0---------|----0-------0---------|
G|--2-------2-----------|--0-------0-----------|--0-------0-----------|
D|0-------0-------------|----------------------|-----------------------|
A|----------------------|2-------2-------------|2-------2-------------|
E|----------------------|3-------3-------------|3-------3-------------|
D G G
🎶 Full Lyrics with Chords
Verse 1
He [G]painted Salford's smokey tops
On [D]cardboard boxes from the shops
And [Em]parts of Ancoats where I used to [Am]play
I'm [C]sure he once walked down our street
'Cause he [G]painted kids who had nowt on their feet
The [D]clothes we wore had all seen better [G]days.
Verse 2
Now they [G]said his works of art were dull
No [D]room, all round the walls are full
But [Em]Lowry didn't care much any[Am]way
They [C]said he just paints cats and dogs
And [G]matchstalk men in boots and clogs
And [D]Lowry said, "That's just the way they'll [G]stay."
🎵 Chorus
And he [G]painted matchstalk men and matchstalk [C]cats and dogs
He painted [D]kids on the corner of the street that were sparkin' [G]clogs
Now he [G]takes his brush and he waits outside them factory [C]gates
To paint his [D]matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and [G]dogs.
Verse 3
Now [G]canvas and brushes were wearing thin
When [D]London started calling him
To [Em]come on down and wear the old flat [Am]cap
They [C]said, "Tell us all about your ways
And [G]all about them Salford days,
Is it [D]true you're just an ordinary [G]chap?"
(Chorus repeats)
Verse 4
Now [G]Lowry's hang upon the wall
Be[D]side the greatest of them all
And [Em]even the Mona Lisa takes a [Am]bow
This [C]tired old man with hair like snow
Told [G]northern folk, "It's time to go"
The [D]fever came and the good Lord mopped his [G]brow.
(Chorus repeats)
Final Choruses (x2 or fade out)
And he [G]left us matchstalk men and matchstalk [C]cats and dogs
He left us [D]kids on the corner of the street that were sparkin' [G]clogs
Now he [G]takes his brush and he waits outside them pearly [C]gates
To paint his [D]matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and [G]dogs.
Repeat 2–3 times, slowing slightly at the very end.
💡 Optional Ending
For a tender finish, fingerpick the last line softly:
To paint his matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and dogs...
Then end with a single open G chord (let it ring).
Below is the list of songs that are in the ebooks. This is the largest collection of tin whistle sheet music songs ever put together.[About 800 songs ] including Matchstalk Men And Matchstalk Cats And Dogs
All of the songs have been made as easy to play as was possible.
The price of this ebook is €7.50 and it will be emailed to you after payment, please be patient.
All of the songs have been made as easy to play as was possible.
The price of this ebook is €7.50 and it will be emailed to you after payment, please be patient.
To play along with the youtube video of Brian And Michael use these sort of easy guitar chords.
He[C] painted Salford's smokey tops
On[A] cardboard boxes from the shops
And parts of ancoats where I used to[Dm] play
I'm sure he once walked down our street
Cause he[C] painted kids who had nowt on their feet
The[G] clothes we wore had all see better[C] days[Dm][G]
Now they [C]said his works of art were dull
No [A]room all round the walls are full
But Lowry didn't care much any[Dm]way
They said he just paints cats and dogs
And [C]matchstalk men in boots and clogs
And [G]Lowry said that's just the way they'll [C]stay
And[G] he painted [C]matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and [Dm]dogs
He painted[G] kids on the corner of the street that were sparking[C] clogs
Now he takes his brush and he waits out[Dm]side them factory gates
To paint his[G] matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and [C]dogs.
Lyrics and chords K - M
He[C] painted Salford's smokey tops
On[A] cardboard boxes from the shops
And parts of ancoats where I used to[Dm] play
I'm sure he once walked down our street
Cause he[C] painted kids who had nowt on their feet
The[G] clothes we wore had all see better[C] days[Dm][G]
Now they [C]said his works of art were dull
No [A]room all round the walls are full
But Lowry didn't care much any[Dm]way
They said he just paints cats and dogs
And [C]matchstalk men in boots and clogs
And [G]Lowry said that's just the way they'll [C]stay
And[G] he painted [C]matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and [Dm]dogs
He painted[G] kids on the corner of the street that were sparking[C] clogs
Now he takes his brush and he waits out[Dm]side them factory gates
To paint his[G] matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and [C]dogs.
Lyrics and chords K - M
Brian And Michael matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and dogs song
"Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs" is a nostalgic folk song by British duo Brian and Michael (Michael Coleman and Kevin Parrott), released in 1978. The song was written as a tribute to the painter L. S. Lowry (Laurence Stephen Lowry) and his artwork, which famously depicted scenes of working-class life in industrial northern England.
Meaning and Themes:
Meaning and Themes:
- Tribute to L. S. Lowry:
The song celebrates the life and work of L. S. Lowry, whose art was characterized by depictions of urban life in Salford and Manchester. His paintings often featured "matchstalk men" (stick-figure-like people), "matchstalk cats and dogs," and industrial landscapes with chimneys and mills.- The "matchstalk" imagery refers to Lowry’s distinctive, simple figures that appear in his paintings.
- Nostalgia for Working-Class Life:
The song captures the essence of the working-class communities of Lowry's era, portraying the hardships, joys, and close-knit nature of life in industrial towns. It highlights the beauty in everyday life that Lowry captured in his art. - Loss and Change:
There is a subtle theme of mourning for a way of life that was disappearing by the 1970s due to industrial decline. Lowry’s paintings were often viewed with a sense of melancholy, and the song reflects this sentiment by evoking memories of a bygone time. - Childlike Perspective:
The references to children playing in the street, scenes of daily life, and simple pleasures reflect the innocence and simplicity that Lowry’s art depicted. The song evokes a sense of wonder at how everyday moments could be turned into art.
- The song was a major hit, reaching #1 on the UK Singles Chart in 1978.
- It helped bring Lowry’s art to a wider audience and solidified his status as one of Britain’s most beloved painters.
- The children's choir featured in the recording (St. Winifred’s School Choir) added a sense of authenticity and warmth.
Street Hawker painting by L.S. Lowry from the year 1929 from an exhibition at the Tate
