"Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs" is a tribute to the artist L. S. Lowry, who had died two years previously. For the song, Coleman drew on his own memories of Salford and Ancoats as well as the paintings of L. S. Lowry. St Winifred's School Choir appeared on the record, singing the children's song "The Big Ship Sails on the Alley-Alley-O". The single spent three weeks at the top of the UK Singles Chart. The b-side of the record was entitled "The Old Rocking Chair".
Lyrics: He painted Salford's smokey tops On cardboard boxes from the shops And parts of ancoats where I used to play I'm sure he once walked down our street Cause he painted kids who had nowt on their feet The clothes we wore had all see better 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 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 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