shoe full

"A shoe full of rice" is a phrase in the song The Freshmen by The Verve Pipe. In the context of the song, commonly assumed to be about a botched abortion and a girlfriend's suicide, "a shoe full of rice" seems to be a nonsequitor. However, the song's author explains that "a shoe full of rice" simply is symbolic of a wedding. In many traditions, wedding guests shower the bride and groom with rice/grains to represent fertility. Because of the abortion referred to in the song, there will be no wedding. Here's a quote from the author of The Freshmen, Brian Vander Ark: "STOP A BABY'S BREATH, AND A SHOE FULL OF RICE, NO. first of all, forget the NO. stop a baby's breath is just that. abort the baby. a shoe full of rice is a result of a wedding. so--stop a baby's breath AND then you stop a wedding. she's pregnant, get her to abort, and then there's no wedding."