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

Al Kooper

Al KooperSongwriter Interviews

Kooper produced Lynyrd Skynyrd, played with Dylan and the Stones, and formed BS&T.

Oliver Leiber

Oliver LeiberSongwriter Interviews

Oliver Leiber talks about writing and producing hits for Paula Abdul, and explains his complicated relationship with his father, the songwriter Jerry Leiber.

Harry Shearer

Harry ShearerSongwriter Interviews

Harry is Derek Smalls in Spinal Tap, Mark Shubb in The Folksmen, and Mr. Burns on The Simpsons.

Don Dokken

Don DokkenSongwriter Interviews

Dokken frontman Don Dokken explains what broke up the band at the height of their success in the late '80s, and talks about the botched surgery that paralyzed his right arm.

Gene Simmons of Kiss

Gene Simmons of KissSongwriter Interviews

The Kiss rocker covers a lot of ground in this interview, including why there are no Kiss collaborations, and why the Rock Hall has "become a sham."

Meshell Ndegeocello

Meshell NdegeocelloSongwriter Interviews

Meshell Ndegeocello talks about recording "Wild Night" with John Mellencamp, and explains why she shied away from the spotlight.