Standing at the bus stop with my shopping in my hands
And I'm overhearing elder ladies
As the rumours start to fly
You can hear them in the school yard, in the scrapyard
In the chip shop, in the phone box
In the pool hall, at the shoe store
Every corner turn around

It started with a school girl
Who was running
Running home to her Mom and Dad
Told them she was playing, in the change room of the local football side
They said, "Tell us again", she told them again
"Tell us the truth," they find it hard to believe
'Cause he taught our boy Steve, he even trained me
Taught our John who's a father of three

Only takes one tree, to make a thousand matches
Only takes one match, to burn a thousand trees
Thousand trees

See it in the classroom
In the swimming pool
Where the match stick men are made
At the scout's 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 they're ripping them down, stamping the ground
Picture gathers dust behind the bar in the lounge

Only takes one tree, to make a thousand matches
Only takes one match, to burn a thousand trees
Thousand trees

Wake up, smell the rain
Shake up, he's back to stay
Hasn't been on a holiday
Growing seeds don't believe
Why he's been away

From the school yard, change room
Playing fields, bathroom
Phone box, office blocks
Corners turn around
They keep doubting the flame, tossing the blame
Got his name knocked up above the sports ground gates
And they're ripping them down, stamping the ground
Picture gathers dust in the bar

Only takes one tree, to make a thousand matches
Only takes one match, to burn a thousand trees
Thousand trees
Thousand trees
Thousand trees Writer/s: Kelly Jones, Richard Mark Jones, Stuart Cable
Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind