Your Little Hoodrat Friend

This entire album is incredibly lyrically dense. This particular song has a few ambiguous, problematic occurances that refer to other songs as well as other albums entirely. The first major problem is identifying which of the three major characters (if any) is the persona adopted by Finn in the song. In the song "Multitude of Casualties" we find that "he was getting with HER little hoodrat friend." So it is likely that the persona is being questioned by a female, which leaves us wondering whether or not the hoodrat friend is Halleluiah or a friend of hers. The song "How a Resurrection Really Feels," tells us that "Halleluiah was a hoodrat." Thus, it's probable that Hallelujah is the hoodrat being mentioned in the song. We also find in "Banging Camp," that Hallelujah has some connection to 'penetration park,' which points to her being the female in question. So, most likely the person being addressed by the persona is a friend of Hallelujah's. Now, going out on a limb here- in "Cattle and the Creeping things" Gideon is said to have seen someone (probably Holly) in Denver and he notes that "she was contagious"("i heard gideon did you in denver.") so it's possible that it is Gideon who has gotten with Holly; pointing to his existence as the insincere persona in this song. Of course, it's also entirely possible that the speaker is NOT one of the three main characters and that the song stands alone apart from Holly. But, Finn loves to entertwine his songs and weave seemingly simple stories that are actually quite complex so I would wager that Gideon is involved. If someone has other ideas, let me know, I'm very curious as to how other people believe this song fits into the continuity.

This song is about direct interaction between the storyteller (most likely craig) and Holly the hoodrat. In most of the songs, Craig only talks about seeing Holly or tells storys he's heard about her. In this song, he's speaking about what Holly is like in person. He is repulsed by her, but at the same time, pities her, and in the end, we find that he has feelings for her but she turns him down, claiming to be "saving herself for the scene" He then is taken aback and denies ever wanting to have sex with her (i.e. "what makes you think i'm gettin' withy our little hoodrat friend?") but secretly does. Him and Holly get high and she tells him about the old days with all of her friends. And she tells him about how true love gets troubled by trivial things (still water) by the missisippi river. Which is where Holly got high for the first (and last) time. So true love may be just a metaphor for a simpler, cleaner life.

This song brings a smile to my face every time. I love it

one question: is the "it's funny even true love gets troubled by still water / and washed up in the Mississippi River" line a reference to jeff buckley?

Stillwater is a city in Minnesota (where band members have roots). It is most well known for holding the prison so i am thinking it might have to do with that

Also literally 'still water', as in not flowing or waves or anything, no excitement, stuck in a standstill.

Great song, very entertaining and well written. I think the line about Stillwater (still water) represents a double entendre where it can most easily be interpreted as still water, but some may regonize it as Stillwater a town in the Twin Cities, which happens to be located on the St. Croix River which flows into the Mississippi River.

Mentioning Osseo, City Center, Prospect Park (my wife (ex hoodrat) says Penetration Park is that neighborhood with the witches hat tower), I'm inclined to believe that still water is Stillwater.

Looking at multitude of casualties where gideon gets with holly's hoodrat friend makes me think that this song is about gideon lying to holly about never being with her hoodrat friend (holly and her friend both being hoodrats)

"I think the line about Stillwater (still water) represents a double entendre"

Yea I'd be very surprised if Craig Finn included "still water" without intending it to be, at least on one level, a reference to the city. The St. Croix (which Stillwater is right on) and the Mississippi merge down around Hastings, so the "washed up in the Mississippi river" reference makes sense. Mr. Finn you are a clever dude