# The origin of "I'll Be Your Huckelberry"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 18, 2003, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origin-of-ill-be-your-huckelberry/182630 "2003-06-18T04:29:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DTFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@DTFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DTFan)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origin-of-ill-be-your-huckelberry/182630/1 "2003-06-18T04:29:44Z")
Heard this in a movie and then in a song on the same day. The movie was Tombstone and the song was some country song by Toby Keith (I think). Anyway, I was just wondering if anyone knew what exactly this means and where it originated from. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![j.c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@j.c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j.c)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origin-of-ill-be-your-huckelberry/182630/2 "2003-06-18T04:41:54Z")
I think Cecil has covered it, but can’t find it. This might help: [http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-huc1.htm](http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-huc1.htm) ---
**Author:** ![DTFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@DTFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DTFan)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origin-of-ill-be-your-huckelberry/182630/3 "2003-06-18T06:38:15Z")
might have been covered but I couldn’t find anything on it. I tried the link you suggested but can’t connect right now. Guess I’ll try again in the morning. Thanks for the help. Maybe if Cecil did cover it somebody else might remember where the info is at (fingers are crossed). THanks. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origin-of-ill-be-your-huckelberry/182630/4 "2003-06-18T07:08:41Z")
I don’t know the origin, but it’s another name for a special friend. The song “Moon River” refers to it also. > [@](#): > > We’re after the same rainbow’s end – my huckleberry friend – Moon River and me. ---
**Author:** ![DTFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@DTFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DTFan)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origin-of-ill-be-your-huckelberry/182630/5 "2003-06-18T07:18:01Z")
that it was something like a person who was willing to take a chance with you (or against you). I don’t know. The song (which I found again thanks to the Net) is Toby Keith. THe line goes: “Baby I’ll be you huckleberry You won’t have to double dare me …” Something about a first kiss in a shack on the side of the road. Thanks for the help so far everyone. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origin-of-ill-be-your-huckelberry/182630/6 "2003-06-18T12:17:42Z")
The word detective says this: [Word Detective](http://www.word-detective.com/back-w.html#huckle) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origin-of-ill-be-your-huckelberry/182630/7 "2003-06-18T12:19:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zoe \* > \*\*I don’t know the origin, but it’s another name for a special friend. The song “Moon River” refers to it also. \*\* Johnn Mercer, who wrote the lyrics to “Moon River” has admitted to having no idea what the phrase “my huckleberry friend” means. He coined it solely to fit the rhythm, and if it had any meaning before that, he was unaware of it. According to the OED, the first cite with the meaning of “sweetheart” was from 1946. There’s a second cite from 1951 from a journal of american dialects, so it’s quite likely Mercer was unfamiliar with the term as he has said. (There was also an old proverbial phrase “I’ll be a huckleberry to your persimmon” which dates to 1832, but which mean “I’m better than you.”) ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origin-of-ill-be-your-huckelberry/182630/8 "2003-06-18T13:37:25Z")
Here’s one [huckleberry friend](http://www.toonopedia.com/huckle.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origin-of-ill-be-your-huckelberry/182630/9 "2003-06-18T14:40:18Z")
The now-defuct word maven’s say this: [Word Maven](http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=19961210) ---
**Author:** ![DTFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@DTFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DTFan)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origin-of-ill-be-your-huckelberry/182630/10 "2003-06-18T15:02:08Z")
I got my question answered and got some new links also. Thanks again.