The Mountain Goats' John Darnielle Discusses “Stabbed To Death Outside San Juan”

It’s been three years since the release of The Mountain Goats’ last full-length album, Transcendental Youth. In that time, Mountain Goats’ mastermind John Darnielle became a father, published his first novel, and stockpiled songs inspired by a youthful fascination with professional wrestling. The squared circle is a fresh setting for Darnielle, but Beat The Champ-which arrives in North America via Merge Records on April 7-still bears the hallmarks of his main musical outlet: impeccable storytelling, deep thoughts about mortality and other human concerns. And, most importantly, Darnielle’s voice and guitar, the two instruments he brought along to perform Beat The Champ’s “Stabbed To Death Outside San Juan” for One Track Mind. Among the humming refrigerator’s of Sam’s Quik Stop (in Darnielle’s adopted hometown of Durham, North Carolina), the singer-songwriter recounted the tragedy of Frank Goodish (a.k.a. Bruiser Brody, a.k.a. King Kong Brody), whose unsolved murder before a match in Puerto Rico forms the basis of “Stabbed To Death Outside San Juan.” It’s a quintessential Mountain Goats composition, in which Darnielle steps into the shoes of yet another ill-fated soul, his doomy strumming setting the scene for Goodish’s final moments-and his encounter with a graph of heavenly bodies.
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[@Longleke.]

I'm glad he admits to google searching for incredibly specific lyrics, because I always just assumed his mind was full of things like "Hertzsprung-Russell diagram"

[@LemonCircuits]

The Hertstrum Russel Diagram line is great holy shit

[@k.g.alatore355]

I love how John's a doom metal nut.

[@ionlyjoinedtoremovethatsig2819]

Seriously I would love to hear a mountain goats version of War Pigs O.O

[@personaljesus628]

I didn't think I could love you guys anymore than I already do.

[@joelredacted2372]

not to be dr*nk but this song is SO fuckin well done it makes me absolutely insane

[@edvdylanfan]

Kinda funny, I was expecting The Legend of Chavo Guerrero to be about the tragedies that surround Chavo Jr. (Eddie and Chris Benoit's tragic deaths)

[@nihilistchannel4598]

RIP Bruiser Brody

[@personaljesus628]

I litterly just found this song and I love bruiser brody totally shocked and amazed and very happy that he's being remberd by a great band such as the mountain goats.

[@superermac55]

King Kong brody? Bruiser brody man

[@brianhalligan9268]

He is more well know as Bruiser but one of his old ring names was actually King Kong Brody used during his time in Texas. And if the story off Legend of Chavo Guerrero is accurate John likely started which Texas area wrestling so he may have first seen him as King Kong brody which is how he remembers him

[@ionlyjoinedtoremovethatsig2819]

Seriously I would love to hear a mountain goats version of War Pigs O.O

[@BonghitTransplants]

There are certain heights no man can aspire to. Save John

[@foxyshibata3783]

The Hertstrum Russel Diagram works especially as it's a diagram of the light of Stars, and it's hard to argue Brody wasn't a star back then.

[@onlinefriends7499]

I want to hear a full Mountain Goats cover of War Pigs

[@kyeo77]

maybe his son is just a big ministry fan

[@APlusDGaming]

i need annual or semi-annual updates on johns sons taste in music