Lifter Puller — “The Pirate And The Penpal”
It’s no secret that Craig Finn (Hold Steady, Ex-Lifter Puller) is a gifted lyricist, but he really outdoes himself with the darkly hilarious lyrics to “The Pirate And The Penpal.” Over guitar parts that recall Pavement, Finn paints a strangely vivid portrait of a teen misfit who develops a desperate crush on her penpal, an inmate.
You spent the summer at the strawberry stand
There wasn’t much that you could do about it
You’re 15 and you’re 6 feet tall
You’re flat-chested and you’re angry about it
Don’t wear those push-up pants, you’ve got enough nicknames already
I asked the postmaster, he said penpals really can’t be going steady
Told her all about the tighten up
The way they used to dance down in Houston, Texas
Her favorite song is still “Forget the Swan”
It gives her hope when those guitars kick in
All the money from the strawberry stand slips through your hands
‘Cause you buy too many stamps
Spend your days just waitin on the mailman
When he gets here you should ask him for a dance
Don’t listen to the whispers of the kitchen knife, the bathtub and the rain
Yeah so he’s a criminal
At least you know he loves you for your brain …
