I went for a walk on a stalk, on a stalk of wheat
And it felt like a trillion feet
I was looking for a friend at the end, at the end of the line
And it took me till the end of time

I was all out of luck like a duck, like a duck that died
I was all out of juice like a moose, like a moose denied
I was all out of money like a bunny that's broke
I was all out of work like a jerk who's a joke
And I was out of ideas, like I is, like I is,
Like I is, like I is, I was out of ideas...of ideas

I once had a dream of a gleam, of a gleam in my eye
And I'll have it till the day I die
I had a thought bubble of trouble, of trouble and strife
And I'll have it for the rest of my life

I was all out of luck like a duck, like a duck that died
I was all out of juice like a moose, like a moose denied
I was all out of money like a bunny that's broke
I was all out of work like a jerk who's a joke
And I was out of ideas like I is, like I is,
Like I is, like I is, I was out of ideas, of ideas, of ideas, of ideas


Lyrics submitted by Spacecow

Stalk of Wheat Lyrics as written by John Linnell John Flansburgh

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Stalk of Wheat song meanings
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3 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    I think this song is about being unemployed and looking for a job, to no avail. The chorus says "I was out of luck/juice"(energy)"/money/ideas", showing that the singer is unemployed. He went for a walk on a stalk of wheat (searched for a job) and it felt like a trillion feet (it's taking a really long time). He was looking for a friend (a job again), and it took him until the end of time (a long time, again).

    He once had a dream "of a gleam in my eye" which meant he had he dreamt he had a job, and he'll keep hoping for a job until he dies. He also had a thought of living the rest of his life in misery and poverty, and he'll have that thought for the rest of his life. In other words, if he ever does get a job again, he'll try hard not to lose it.

    AlmightyDoerOfStuffon January 13, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Anyone else notice that "stalk of wheat" is a reference to TMBG's self-titled song?

    maddsurgeonon October 03, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I don't know, this is probably my least favorite TMBG song. Oh Well.

    "I was all out of luck (like a duck) like a duck that died" In Jethro Tull's Aqualung, there's a part of it that says "Feeling like a dead duck/Spitting up pieces of his broken luck." Maybe a reference?

    Mikan Cycloneon April 10, 2007   Link

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