"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."
"
Stop a
baby's breath, and a shoe full of rice."
Q: Hey, does anyone know what does "a shoe full of rice" means?
A: It's just supposed to symbolize a
wedding; at some weddings, they throw rice.