In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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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could it be that the coach is falsely accused ? when I read the lyrics I have a feeling the accent lies more on the gossip than on the child abuse. one day he is a celebrated coach, the next day rumours start to spread and he ends up being 'ripped down'
just an idea