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 seen 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 with the 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 with the 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 lowries 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 with 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 with 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 with 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 with sparking clogs now he takes his brush and he waits outside them pearly gates to paint his matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and dogs 