A Thousand Trees

Standing at the bus stop with my shopping in my handsWhen i'm over-hearing elder ladies,As the rumours start to flyYou hear them in the school yardIn the scrap yardIn the chip shopIn the phone boxIn the pool hallAt the shoe storeEvery corner turn aroundIt started with a school girlWho was running, Running home to her Mam and DadTold 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 Steve, even trained me, Taught uncle John who's a father of threeOnly takes one tree, to make a thousand matchesOnly takes one match, to burn a thousand treesA thousand treesYou see it in the classroomIn the swimming poolWhere the match-stick men are madeAt the scout's hallAt the footballWhere the wise we trust are paidThey all honour his nameHe did a lot for the gameGot his name knocked up above the sports ground gatesNow they're ripping them down, stamping the groundPicture gathers dust in the bar in the loungeIt takes one tree, to make a thousand matchesOnly takes one match, to burn a thousand treesA thousand treesWake up, and smell the rainShake up, he's back to stayHasn't been on a holidayHis growing seeds don't believeWhy he's been awayIn the school yardChanging roomPlaying fieldsBathroomPhone boxOffice blocksCorners turn aroundThey keep doubting the flame, tossing the blameGot his name knocked up above the sports ground gatesnow they're ripping them down, stamping the groundPicture gathers dust in the bar, in the loungeOnly takes one tree, to make a thousand matchesOnly takes one match, to burn A thousand treesA thousand treesA thousand treesA thousand trees