A Thousand Trees
Stereophonics
Word Gets Around (1997)

Standing at the bus stop
with my shopping in my hands
and I'm over hearing older ladies
as the rumours start to fly
you can hear them in the school yard,
scrap yard, chip shop,phone box,
in the pool hall,at the shoe stall
every corner turned around.

it started with the school girl who was running,
running home to her mam and dad
told them she was playing
in the change room
of the local football side
they said tell us again
so she told them again
they said tell us the truth
they found it hard to believe
cause he taught our steve even trained me
taught uncle john who's a father of three

but it only takes one tree to make a thousand matches
only takes one match to burn a thousand trees
a thousand trees

you see it in the class room
in the swimming pool
where the match stick men are made
at the scouts hall
at the football
where the wise we trust are paid
they all honour his name
he did a lot for the game
got his name knocked up above the sports ground gates
but now they're ripping it down
stamping the ground
pictures gather dust behind the bar

it only takes one tree to make a thousand matches
only takes one match to burn a thousand trees
a thousand trees

wake up
smell the rain
shake up
he's back to stay
hasn't been on a holiday
growin seeds don't believe
why he's been away

in the school yard
change room, playing fields
bathroom, phone box
office blocks
every corner turned around
they keep doubting the flame
tossing the blame
got his name knocked up above the sports ground gates
now they're rippin it down stamping the ground
picture gathers dust behind the bar

it only takes one tree to make a thousand matches
only takes one match to burn a thousand trees
a thousand trees