#267 (of 365) "Dance Music" The Mountain Goats

The Mountain Goats are of course one of my top 5 favorite bands ever, and this album The Sunset Tree, from 2005, is probably my favorite album. Most (all?) of the songs are based on John Darnielle's difficult relationship with an abusive stepfather when he was a child in central California. In the album's liner notes, Darnielle writes: 

"Made possible by my stepfather, Mike Noonan (1940–2004): may the peace which eluded you in life be yours now. Dedicated to any young men and women anywhere who live with people who abuse them, with the following good news:
you are going to make it out of there alive
you will live to tell your story
never lose hope"

"Hast Thou Considered the Tetrapod", "Pale Green Things" and "Lion's Teeth" are all incredible songs about his traumatic experience that didn't make the list, and their most popular song, perhaps--"This Year"-- which never stood out for me until I heard it live, really should have made the cut "I am gonna make it through this year if it kills me!"  But only two tracks from the album made this list (it's hard to get on this countdown!) so I'm using this one to write about the album... why Dance Music? Well, it's a great little song, with one standout line that I come back to over and over again.

Alright, I'm on Johnson Avenue in San Luis Obispo
And I'm five years old or six maybe
And indications that there's something wrong with our new house
Trip down the wire twice daily
​
I'm in the living room watching the Watergate hearings
While my stepfather yells at my mother
Launches a glass across the room, straight at her head
And I dash upstairs to take cover
Lean in close to my little record player on the floor
So this is what the volume knob's for!

I listen to dance music. Dance music.

"Dance Music" - The Mountain Goats // Whatever's Cool with Me (1991)