A Thousand Trees

Album: Word Gets Around (1997)
Charted: 22
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song was inspired by a football coach falsely accused of improperly touching the kids in the team and how a false accusation tars others with the same brush. Hence the (metaphorical) lyrics: "It only one tree to make a thousand matches, only takes one match to burn a thousand trees." >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Greg - Wrexham, Wales

Comments: 7

  • Rick from LancsBryan from Cwmaman, This song and album influenced me massively, every song on word gets Around is a story. I’ll be honest until I read your comment I wasn’t sure which way it went. The beauty of the song is you don’t know if it’s a wrongful accusation or miscarriage of justice. I guess I know now and it will always change how I listen to it
  • Eddie from Stoke On TrentCould anyone let me know the film that "A Thousand Trees" was part of the soundtrack?
    Many Thanks.
  • Mia from Dunstable, United KingdomI couldn't work out if the original person had abused their position (and the girl) or if it was just about malicious accusations. But, after reading the above comments, I think it's about how, after one person abuses their position of trust, others working with children and vulnerable people find themselves having to be careful about how they talk to, touch (innocently) or help those they work with as every action is open to misinterpretation by a suspicious public. And this suspicious nature can easily lead to wrongful accusations, not necessarily malicious. Like Boy in the Photograph, A Thousand Trees deals with a difficult subject but sounds so beautiful!
  • Karl from Ingatestone, United Kingdomhe got jailed for it, that football manager, i mean where was this! Stereophonics make me hover
  • Madeleine from Caerdydd, United KingdomAmazing song. One of Stereophonic's best.
  • Bryan from Cwmaman, United KingdomWasnt falsely accused mate he did it and got jailed for it.
    Used to live next door to my gran and took me football training too!!
  • Nick from Cambridge, EnglandAmazing song, unusualy with a message you should remember. Normaly "message songs" just talk about specific situations.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Kristian Bush of Sugarland

Kristian Bush of SugarlandSongwriter Interviews

Kristian talks songwriting technique, like how the chorus should redefine the story, and how to write a song backwards.

Christmas Songs

Christmas SongsFact or Fiction

Rudolf, Bob Dylan and the Singing Dogs all show up in this Fact or Fiction for seasonal favorites.

Alan Merrill of The Arrows

Alan Merrill of The ArrowsSongwriter Interviews

In her days with The Runaways, Joan Jett saw The Arrows perform "I Love Rock And Roll," which Alan Merrill co-wrote - that story and much more from this glam rock pioneer.

Gary Numan

Gary NumanSongwriter Interviews

An Electronic music pioneer with Asperger's Syndrome. This could be interesting.

The Fratellis

The FratellisSongwriter Interviews

Jon Fratelli talks about the band's third album, and the five-year break leading up to it.

Director Wes Edwards ("Drunk on a Plane")

Director Wes Edwards ("Drunk on a Plane")Song Writing

Wes Edwards takes us behind the scenes of videos he shot for Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley and Chase Bryant. The train was real - the airplane was not.