My huckleberry friend, moon river, and me

The other evening with the kids home, we got to talking over dinner about various aspects of the friendship between Huckleberry Finn and Jim, what was the nature of that friendship, how did it manifest, how do people understand that friendship today given contemporary perspectives, etc.

Later, thinking about it, I wondered what might be the connection with the phrase I have heard, a "Huckleberry friend" and how that might in turn be related to "I'm your Huckleberry."

"I'm your Huckleberry" is apparently a nineteenth century idiom for "I'm just the man for the job."

A "Huckleberry friend, according to Urban Dictionary is:

A very special, good friend that's been in your life for years, typically since youth. From the Johnny Mercer and Henry Mancini song, "Moon River", which was featured in the classic movie "Breakfast at Tiffany's".

OK. What are the lyrics of that song? Huckleberry friend doesn't seem like a phrase that might easily slip into a song.

Moon river from Breakfast at Tiffany's

Moon river, wider than a mile
I'm crossing you in style some day
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker
Wherever you're goin', I'm goin' your way

Two drifters, off to see the world
There's such a lot of world to see
We're after the same rainbow's end, waitin' 'round the bend
My huckleberry friend, moon river, and me

(Moon river, wider than a mile)
(I'm crossin' you in style some day)
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker
Wherever you're goin', i'm goin' your way

Two drifters, off to see the world
There's such a lot of world to see
We're after that same rainbow's end, waitin' 'round the bend
My huckleberry friend, moon river, and me

A charming love song.

Here's a Frank Sinatra version, Elton John, Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton, Andy Williams, and Louis Armstrong.