<P> I wrote it on the bog . I'd gone there, not for the usual reasons...but to get away from the wife and mother - in - law . I used to go into this narrow frizzing toilet and sit there for hours, until they finally went out . I got three quarters of the song finished in that khazi . The rest I finished in the lounge . </P> <P> The "matchstick men" of the song refers to the paintings of Salford artist L.S. Lowry . </P> <P> The song was reprised, in 2014, for the band's thirty - first studio album Aquostic (Stripped Bare). It was featured in the ninety - minute launch performance of the album at London's Roundhouse on 22 October, the concert being recorded and broadcast live by BBC Radio 2 as part of their In Concert series . </P> <Ul> <Li> 1968: Pictures of Matchstick Men / Gentleman Joe's Sidewalk Cafe (Promo) 45 rpm Vinyl 7 "; Pye / 7N 17449 </Li> <Li> 1969: Retrato de hombre con bastón / El café del caballero Joe 33 rpm, Mono Vinyl 7 "; Music Hall / MH 31.101 Argentina </Li> <Li> 1973: Pictures of Matchstick Man / Ice in the Sun 45 rpm Vinyl 7 "; Pye / 12 746 AT </Li> </Ul>

Camper van beethoven - pictures of matchstick lyrics