Standing at the bus stop with my shopping in my hands
when i'm over-hearing elder ladies,
As [bad word] start to fly
You 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 store
Every corner turn around

It started with a school girl
Who [bad word] [bad word] home to her Mam 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 [bad word]  they find it hard to believe
'Cause he taught our Steve, even trained me,
Taught uncle 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

You 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 [bad word] are paid
They all honour his name
He did a lot for the game
Got his name knocked up above the sports ground gates
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
thousand trees

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

In the school yard
Changing 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
now they're ripping them down, stamping the ground
Picture gathers dust in the bar, in the lounge

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