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Standing at the bus stop with my shopping
In my hands when I'm overhearing elder
Ladies as the rumors start to fly you can
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
It started with a school girl who was
Running running home to her mam and
Dad told them she was playing in the
Change room of her local football side they
Said tell us again so she told them again
They said tell us the truth they found it hard
To believe 'cause he taught our Steve he
Even trained me taught uncle john who's
Father of three
But it only takes one tree to make
A thousand matches
Only takes one match to burn
A thousand trees
A thousand trees
You see it in the class room in the
Swimming pool where the matchstick men
Are made at the scouts hall at the football
Where the wise we trust are paid they all
Honor his name he did a lot for the game
He got his name knocked up above the
Sports ground gates but now they are
Ripping them down stamping the ground
Picture gathers dust behind the bar in the
Lounge it takes one tree to make
A thousand matches
Only takes one match to burn
A thousand trees
A thousand trees
Wake up and smell the rain shake up he's
Back to stay he hasn't been on a holiday
His growing seeds don't believe why he's
Been away in the school yard change room
Playing fields bathroom phone box office
Blocks corner turned around they keep
Doubting the flame tossing the blame got
His name knocked up above the sports
Ground gates but now they're
Ripping them down stamping the ground
Picture gathers dust in the bar in the
Lounge it takes one tree to make
A thousand matches
Only takes one match to burn
A thousand trees
A thousand trees
A thousand trees
In my hands when I'm overhearing elder
Ladies as the rumors start to fly you can
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
It started with a school girl who was
Running running home to her mam and
Dad told them she was playing in the
Change room of her local football side they
Said tell us again so she told them again
They said tell us the truth they found it hard
To believe 'cause he taught our Steve he
Even trained me taught uncle john who's
Father of three
But it only takes one tree to make
A thousand matches
Only takes one match to burn
A thousand trees
A thousand trees
You see it in the class room in the
Swimming pool where the matchstick men
Are made at the scouts hall at the football
Where the wise we trust are paid they all
Honor his name he did a lot for the game
He got his name knocked up above the
Sports ground gates but now they are
Ripping them down stamping the ground
Picture gathers dust behind the bar in the
Lounge it takes one tree to make
A thousand matches
Only takes one match to burn
A thousand trees
A thousand trees
Wake up and smell the rain shake up he's
Back to stay he hasn't been on a holiday
His growing seeds don't believe why he's
Been away in the school yard change room
Playing fields bathroom phone box office
Blocks corner turned around they keep
Doubting the flame tossing the blame got
His name knocked up above the sports
Ground gates but now they're
Ripping them down stamping the ground
Picture gathers dust in the bar in the
Lounge it takes one tree to make
A thousand matches
Only takes one match to burn
A thousand trees
A thousand trees
A thousand trees
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'It only takes one tree to make a thousand matches but only takes one match to burn a thousand trees' came from the back of a box of England's Glory matches as I'm sure has been mentioned before, I'm trying a similar thing with cigarette boxes, so far I have one lyric, " Smoking seriously harms you and others around you, You can do it we can help, your Doctor or pharmacist can help you stop smoking" not quite as catchy is it?
I love the double meaning of the line 'his growing seeds don't believe why he's been away' ie the seeds in the containers are like the kids; needing nourishment and care and attention in order to grow and develop. They in their innocence don't believe why he's been away, since they are oblivious to the more serious issues that they don't fully understand or aren't aware of, having more basic needs.
I agree that the emphasis in the song is more about the rumour, partly because the incident is merely alluded to. I think it's interesting that a lot of the comments mention the abuse as if it's true, which kind of mirrors the sense of the tendency of people to gossip without knowing the facts. It's a shame that the accused loses his innocent name whether he is guilty or not, which of course the song can't tell us.
I like the use of the word 'match', since it both represents the start of a rumour, which can cause much destruction - and the playing fields where a football match is played, a possible breeding ground for gossip and group-think. Also, the match burning a thousand trees could be to do with how abuse itself causes many wide-reaching and terrible consequences, such as loss of faith in authority, innocence and relationships; breeds suspicion and mistrust, negative emotions such as shame and guilt - and even abuse itself.
The writer(s) are clearly lamenting the small town mentalities which give rise to the damaging effects of rumour and hearsay. It is sad not just how a reputation can hang on a thread, but how the collective reality of a community can be on shaky foundations; and that more often than not, people will scapegoat an outsider, an oddball, the falsely accused, or any other unfortunate victim who upsets the prevailing belief in what's right, truthful or the norm. Truth can be the casualty and pretentiousness wins.
Having said all that, this song rocks and sounds cool loud!
Someone else said this described typical South Wales valleys. Maybe that's so, but these guys are from north Wales and this is about a local incident.
Echoing what so many others have said, this and "Local Boy" stand head and shoulders above anything else they have ever produced. Still, two greats is quite an achievement.
Although it is not correct that the guys are from North Wales. They are from Aberdare in the South Wales valleys (though not all of them as I believe the drummer who replaced Stuart Cable is from Argentina).
I know this because I have seen them for myself in Aberdare from time to time and I have family members who know them personally.
And in the case with the PE teacher, my guess was right; the PE teacher had a good reputation but lost it all when the incident happened(or after people started to believe it happened)
Also, it could be that it only takes one person to start gossiping about someone else to give the other person a bad reputation.
It only takes Person A to start gossiping about Person B.
It only takes that gossip to burn Person B's good reputation.
Brilliant song, and even more so when it's read between the lines.
It takes a lifetime to build a big reputation, and become a hero, yet it can be tarnished in seconds. Ya know.
Just an idea.