Sundown in the Paris of the prairies
Wheat kings have all treasures buried
And all you hear are the rusty breezes
Pushing around the weathervane Jesus

His Zippo lighter, he sees the killer's face
Maybe it's someone standing in a killer's place
Twenty years for nothing, well, that's nothing new
Besides, no one's interested in something you didn't do

Wheat kings and pretty things
Let's just see what the morning brings

There's a dream he dreams where the high school's dead and stark
It's a museum and we're all locked up in it after dark
The walls are lined all yellow, grey and sinister
Hung with pictures of our parents' prime ministers

Wheat kings and pretty things
Wait and see what tomorrow brings

Late breaking story on the CBC
A nation whispers, "We always knew that he'd go free"
They add, "You can't be fond of living in the past
'Cause if you are, then there's no way that you're gonna last"

Wheat kings and pretty things
Let's just see what tomorrow brings
Wheat kings and pretty things
Oh, that's what tomorrow brings


Lyrics submitted by black_cow_of_death

Wheat Kings Lyrics as written by Gordon Sinclair Gordon Downie

Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing

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Wheat Kings song meanings
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25 Comments

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  • +3
    General CommentThe song "Wheat Kings", from Fully Completely, is mainly about David Milgaard. Milgaard, who was from Saskatchewan, was wrongly convicted of murder and served over 20 years in prison before being released. Wheat kings are the nicknames for those giant wheat silos you see on the prairies on farms and such. Gord probably got inspiration for the song title from the Brandon Wheat Kings, the Western Hockey League team in Brandon, Manitoba. In terms of "Wheat kings and pretty things", the Pretty Things were a band that the Hip used to listen to a lot when they were first starting out in 1983, and they covered a few Pretty Things songs in their sets way back in the beginning, so this line is probably a tribute to that band. The entire lyric "wheat kings and pretty things/lets just see what the morning brings" was probably written as if Milgaard himself was saying this as he's looking out his jail cell window, out at the prairies, hence the "wheat kings and pretty things" and his undying hope that he'll be exonerated, and his optimism towards this end: "Let's just see what the morning brings."
    rosene_80on July 03, 2004   Link
  • +3
    General CommentGord Is the truest of Lyricists " a weathervane Jesus" who could think of that, He paints such vivid pictures it's haunting I feel as if I could make an entire 2 hr movie from that 4 min. song
    Jamey66on October 08, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General CommentAnother one of my favs
    Katydidon May 09, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Commentobviously you are a big hip fan....hell, you're the only one that exists around here. i've always wondered about the connection between this and 38 years old. if you haven't noticed it, listen to the 2 of them. the whole prison, jailbreak, 18 year old kid, 38 year old kid, 20 years for nthing....look at them and let me know what you think. gordie's amazing.....
    bosco9on May 09, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General CommentOh yeah...I can see somet sort of connection, maybe it was subconsciously? 'cuz I know the song is about this Milgaard guy from Saskatchewan who spent 20 years in jail for a murder that he didn't commit. Ouch! Now that's bad :( Anyway, no hard feelings in the Blink comments, eh? ^_^ I wasn't calling you guys childish. Those people just aren't even worth arguing with. The know shit all.
    Katydidon May 09, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General CommentAre you guys Canadian? My buddies who live there swear by these guys and are amazed they are not big here in the States. I know a few of their songs, but I think this one is my fav. Great tune.
    ELS24on August 23, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Commenthell yes i'm canadian! and ELS24, "great tune" is an understatemen for this track
    sohlgirlon September 27, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Commentthis song is about a true story........
    38 years old is based on a fake story......

    both brilliant songs
    Millioon April 25, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General CommentThis song is at least partly about David Milgaard isn't it? He spent 20 years in prison for a murder he didn't commit. Either way its awesome
    Obsidianhexon May 07, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General CommentThere are a few hip fans around here...me for example..

    they played this song last night as a second encore at the tour for Between the Evolution...great show...great CD
    xArcanumon July 02, 2004   Link

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