Standing at the bus stop with my shopping in my hands
When I'm over hearing elder ladies as the rumours start to fly
Hear them in the school yard, in the scrap yard, in the chip shop
In the phone box, in the pool hall, at the shoe stall every corner turned
Around

Started with the school girl who was running
Running home to her mum 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 found it hard to believe
Cause he taught our steve, even trained me
Taught uncle john who's a father of three

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

You see it in the class room or the swimming pool
Where the match stick men are made
At the scouts hall at the football, where the wise we trust are paid
We all honour his name, did a lot for the game
Got his name knocked up above the sports ground gates
Now they're ripping it down, stamping the ground
Picture gather dust in the bar and the lounge

It 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

In the school yard, change room, playing fields, bathroom, phone box, office
Blocks
Corner's turned around, they keep doubting the flame, tossing the blame
Got his name knocked up above the sports ground gates
Now they're ripping it down
Stamping the ground picture gathers dust in the bar and the lounge

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

I guess if you inflate the number, you can plagiarize the idea?

Though the Stereophonics probably didn't come up with it first either.

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

I always ythought the numbers were a bit low - but I suspect that it was the inspiration for this one.