Recording mostly live, the band released its debut, Almost Killed Me, on French Kiss Records in March 2004 and Separation Sunday a year later. In April 2006 the band signed to Vagrant Records and entered the studio on the 1st of May to begin work on their third record, Boys and Girls in America. Released in October, it was one of the most critically acclaimed records of 2006 and reached a much larger audience than its predecessors.
The band released their fourth album, Stay Positive, recorded again with Boys and Girls in America producer John Agnello. Nicolay left the group and on May 4, 2010 the band released their fifth studio album, Heaven Is Whenever, recorded with producer Dean Baltulonis.
On July 15, 2008, Stay Positive was released. It debuted at #30 on the Billboard 200. It debuted on the UK Album Chart at #15 on July 20, the third-highest new entry. It ranked #1 on the UK Indie Chart. The album was named the best of 2008 by Entertainment Weekly. The song "Constructive Summer" was number 56 on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Best Songs of 2008.
Their seventh album, Thrashing Thru the Passion, was released in 2019. Among its songs, "Entitlement Crew" and "Confusion in the Marketplace," were considered standouts.
South Town Girls
The Hold Steady Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But you know that they'll stay (x4)
Take Lyndale to the horizon.
Take Nicollet out to the ocean.
Take Penn Ave out to the 494.
Meet me right in front of the fabric store.
Don't look me in the eye.
I'm a little bit surprised.
You didn't tell me there'd be three of you.
Hey Bloomington, what'd you let them do to you?
I think they're almost through with you.
Southtown girls wont blow you away
But you know that they'll stay.
Take Lyndale back to the southside.
Take Nicollet up to the Vietnamese.
Take Penn Ave back up to the northside.
Take Lowery east to the quarry.
Meet me right in front of the rainbow foods.
I got a brown paper bag and black buckle shoes.
If anything seems weird then just cruise.
Meet me right in front of the party city.
That two sided tape it gets way too sticky.
I got a bad case of noisemaker blues.
Southtown girls wont blow you away
But you know that they'll stay
The Hold Steady's song Southtown Girls seems to be about a man who is directing someone on how to get to various locations in the Southtown area of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The lyrics are full of references to specific streets, neighborhoods, and landmarks in the city. The man instructs the listener to take different routes to get to different places, including a fabric store, a theater, a grocery store, and a party supply store. Along the way, he seems to be lamenting the changes that have happened in the area, referring to the city of Bloomington and asking "what'd you let them do to you?"
The refrain of the song repeats the line "Southtown girls won't blow you away, but you know that they'll stay" several times. This line seems to be a reference to the girls who live in the Southtown area - they might not be the most glamorous or exciting, but they are loyal and dependable. The song seems to be both a tribute to the city of Minneapolis and a bit of a nostalgic look back at a time when things were simpler and the singer's life was perhaps a little less complicated.
Overall, Southtown Girls is a beautifully crafted song with lyrics that are both specific and universal - while it is undoubtedly a song about Minneapolis, the idea of feeling a little lost or out of place in a changing world is something that many people can relate to.
Line by Line Meaning
Southtown girls won't blow you away
Girls from Southtown are not extremely attractive or impressive
But you know that they'll stay (x4)
Despite their lack of glamour, they are dependable and reliable
Take Lyndale to the horizon.
Drive all the way to the end of Lyndale avenue
Take Nicollet out to the ocean.
Drive all the way to the ocean from Nicollet avenue
Take Penn Ave out to the 494.
Drive all the way to the highway 494 from Penn avenue
Meet me right in front of the fabric store.
Meet me at the specified location, in front of the fabric store
Don't look me in the eye.
Please do not make eye contact with me
Look over at the theater.
Instead, look at the theater nearby
I'm a little bit surprised.
I am taken aback, somewhat astonished
You didn't tell me there'd be three of you.
You failed to mention that there would be three people accompanying you
Hey Bloomington, what'd you let them do to you?
A rhetorical question expressing disappointment in how the city has changed
I think they're almost through with you.
Suggesting that the city has been ruined or changed beyond recognition
Take Lyndale back to the southside.
Drive back down Lyndale avenue toward the southern end
Take Nicollet up to the Vietnamese.
Drive up Nicollet avenue toward the Vietnamese community
Take Penn Ave back up to the northside.
Drive back up Penn avenue, toward the northern end
Take Lowery east to the quarry.
Drive east on Lowry avenue toward the quarry area
Meet me right in front of the rainbow foods.
Meet me at the front of the grocery store named Rainbow Foods
I got a brown paper bag and black buckle shoes.
I have brought with me a brown paper bag and shoes with black buckles
If anything seems weird then just cruise.
If something appears strange, simply remain calm and keep going
Meet me right in front of the party city.
Meet me at the front of the party supply store named Party City
That two sided tape it gets way too sticky.
The double-sided tape becomes too difficult to work with
I got a bad case of noisemaker blues.
I am feeling down because I cannot find the right type of noisemaker
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Alfred
Written by: CRAIG FINN, TAD KUBLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind