Wheat Kings
The Tragically Hip Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

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

Overall Meaning

The Tragically Hip's song Wheat Kings tells an emotional story about a man who has been wrongly imprisoned for 20 years for a crime he did not commit. The setting is in a small town in the prairies of Canada, where the wheat fields and winds dominate the landscape. The first verse paints a picture of a desolate, rusting town with the wheat kings, who represent the residents who have all hidden their treasures underground. In the chorus, the singer suggests that nobody knows what the future holds, and it remains to be seen whether the morning will bring anything new.


The second verse continues the story by describing a recurring dream the singer has. It is a bleak and desolate place that symbolizes the end of hope and youth. The yellow, grey, and sinister walls are a metaphor for the imprisonment the singer has endured. The pictures of the prime ministers' line the walls, which indicates the past is behind. The final verse appears to be a reference to the real-life case of David Milgaard, a man wrongly imprisoned for 23 years in Canada. The CBC news story announces his release, and the nation is relieved. The singer suggests that living in the past is a recipe for disaster and that time needs to be focused on tomorrow.


Line by Line Meaning

Sundown in the Paris of the prairies
The sun is setting in the city that is known as the Paris of the prairies.


Wheat kings have all treasures buried
The wealthy individuals in the area have hidden all their riches away.


And all you hear are the rusty breezes
The only sounds heard are the whistling sounds of the wind through the empty streets.


Pushing around the weathervane Jesus
The wind moves the weathervane with a depiction of Jesus on it.


His Zippo lighter, he sees the killer's face
He sees the presumed killer's face in the flame of his Zippo lighter.


Maybe it's someone standing in a killer's place
It's possible that someone else is taking the fall for the crime.


Twenty years for nothing, well, that's nothing new
Being falsely accused and serving a long prison sentence for a crime is not a new concept.


Besides, no one's interested in something you didn't do
No one is interested in hearing about your innocence if you have already been labeled as a criminal.


Wheat kings and pretty things
The wealthy individuals and their lavish belongings.


Let's just see what the morning brings
We'll see what the future holds.


There's a dream he dreams where the high school's dead and stark
He has a recurring dream where his old high school is lifeless and eerie.


It's a museum and we're all locked up in it after dark
He feels trapped within his own memories and the haunting feelings they bring.


The walls are lined all yellow, grey and sinister
The walls are discolored and add to the ominous atmosphere of the dream.


Hung with pictures of our parents' prime ministers
The walls are decorated with portraits of the previous leaders of their country.


Late breaking story on the CBC
A news story was just released on the CBC.


A nation whispers, 'We always knew that he'd go free'
The general public always believed the accused would eventually be exonerated.


They add, 'You can't be fond of living in the past
However, dwelling on the past is not productive.


'Cause if you are, then there's no way that you're gonna last'
Focusing on the past will prevent one from moving forward in life.


Wheat kings and pretty things
The wealthy individuals and their lavish belongings.


Wait and see what tomorrow brings
We'll wait and see what the future holds.


Oh, that's what tomorrow brings
The future is unpredictable and can bring unexpected events.




Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Gordon Downie, Gordon Sinclair, Johnny Fay, Paul Langlois, Robert Baker

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@livelifebehappy118

here's some lyrics to my favourite song

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



@risipieces

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

In 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
Where 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 going to last"

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



All comments from YouTube:

@glencampbell7121

RIP David Milgaard. Thanks to The Hip for keeping his story alive.

@bobhowlett8216

RIP David Milgard , a life lost (his)a life stolen (his)...so sad

@brucebarber4686

Here's one more thing who wrote this tune...you know who I am

@clayton6899

RIP 🙏

@FishyFun57

I grew up with the Story of David Milgaard. I was 7 when it happened, it was a long battle for a little justice! Now maybe Gord and David are writing a different song in Heaven ✨✨✨

@GrantKanigan

RIP David Milgaard

@patriciapaquette1199

All I can say is >>>being a Canadian & living close by to where these wonderful dudes come from ... makes ME so proud & SO honoured to have had in my music life....RIP Gordie Baby XX - you will always live ON with me xxx

@podiumguy100

RIP DAVID MILGAARD

@davidcarr7436

RIP David

@shawndewar3065

The Hip. Bouncing at the Commodore, mucking it up at Clayquot Sound and rocking at Victoria Speedgrounds with the Oil. I kneel down when I hear them now. They are , were the absolute best, and we knew it then , as we do now.

More Comments

More Versions