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5 unusual facts about the Mountain Goats


California Institution for Men

The Mountain Goats song "Pigs That Ran Straightaway into the Water, Triumph of" references the prison facility with the lyrics "I come from Chino, so all your threats are empty", "Please don't fit me with that orange jumpsuit" and "please don't send me back to where I came from Chino."

Family Happiness

The Mountain Goats song "Family Happiness" takes its name from the novella and includes the line "Started quoting Tolstoy into the machine/I had no idea what you meant".

Jeff Davis County, Texas

The musical group The Mountain Goats recorded a song called Jeff Davis County Blues on their 2002 album All Hail West Texas.

Lake Tianchi Monster

The Mountain Goats' 2008 album, Heretic Pride features the song, "Tianchi Lake" about the monster: "Backstroking on the surface, moonlight on its face / Floats the Tianchi monster, staring into space."

Prince Far I

He is referred to by The Clash in their single "Clash City Rockers" and also by The Mountain Goats in the song "Sept. 15th 1983", a reference to the date of his death.


Galesburg, Illinois

Galesburg features prominently in The Mountain Goats' song Weekend in Western Illinois from the album Full Force Galesburg.

I Like Walt

I Like Walt is a compilation EP released by Walt Records in 1994 with tracks by Franklin Bruno, Butterglory, Dump, Guiding Genius, Marcellus Hall, and The Mountain Goats.

Montclair Plaza

John Darnielle, of indie rock band the Mountain Goats, wrote an impromptu song regarding a date with his first girlfriend that took place at the mall during a sound check at Haverford College in 2003.

Red Wanting Blue

On November 5th Red Wanting Blue performed live on the NPR radio program Mountain Stage alongside Dr. Dog and The Mountain Goats at the Keith Albee Theater in West Virginia.

The Bloody Hawaiians

The Bloody Hawaiians were a band made up of John Darnielle of The Mountain Goats and members of Wckr Spgt.

The Extra Lens

The Extra Lens, formerly known as The Extra Glenns, are a band made up of Franklin Bruno of Nothing Painted Blue and John Darnielle of The Mountain Goats.

The Wave Pictures

The band is closely linked to artists Darren Hayman (formerly of Hefner), Herman Dune, Daniel Johnston, Jeffrey Lewis and the Mountain Goats, all of whom they have collaborated with live and on record.

Wckr Spgt

The band consists of Joel Huschle, Mark Givens, and Dave Carpenter and, over the years, a plethora of guest musicians and artists, notably John Darnielle of The Mountain Goats, Ian Carlson of The Desperation Squad, and the members of Nothing Painted Blue (Franklin Bruno, Kyle Brodie, and Peter Hughes).


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