The Dead Milkmen are a satirical punk rock band that formed in Philadelphia… Read Full Bio ↴The Dead Milkmen are a satirical punk rock band that formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The band's best known lineup consisted of Joe Jack Talcum (Joe Genaro; guitar, vocals), Dave Blood (Dave Schulthise; bass), Dean Clean (Dean Sabatino; drums), and Rodney Anonymous (Rodney Linderman; vocals, synth). The original version of the band formed in 1980 around Genaro's songwriting (a predominantly acoustic and often satirical take on New Wave Punk Rock) when he was seventeen; Genaro produced several home tapes as The Dead Milkmen, sometimes with other members credited (occasionally bootlegs or mp3's of these tapes surface). In 1983, the band was re-formed with Schulthise and Sabatino, and lastly vocals were handed over to their friend Rodney Linderman, forming the classic line-up.

The Dead Milkmen's songs found moderate success on alternative and college radio stations. Videos, notably Punk Rock Girl, even found their way onto MTV in the late 1980s. Topics for their music include satire on the 1980s music scene, toxic waste, jellyfish afterlifes, UFOs, conspiracy theories, and cover bands.

Irreverent absurdity fueled their initial popularity, particularly among college DJs. However, this genre was somewhat abandoned with the 1992 release of Soul Rotation, a much more subtle album.

After the Dead Milkmen went on indefinite hiatus in 1994, Genaro and Sabatino formed a new band, Butterfly Joe. Sabatino was also in the punk rock bands Narthex, Big Mess Orchestra, and Hunger Artists. Genaro was in a band called Touch Me Zoo. Linderman was in a band called Burn Witch Burn. Schulthise left music in the early 1990s after developing tendonitis, preventing him from playing bass, and committed suicide in 2004.

The Dead Milkmen took the stage again for two consecutive nights in November 2004 at the Trocadero Theatre in Philadelphia to play a show in memory of Dave Schulthise. Proceeds were donated to a variety of mental health organizations and to a Serbian monastery that Schulthise supported.

The band reunited in 2008 and released a new album (The King in Yellow) in 2011.

Dance with Me
The Dead Milkmen Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I feel ugly and dirty and tired
I can't get to sleep my head is wired
Can't get my mind off a stupid girl
Came into my life and wrecked my world
Got myself drunk got into a fight
Got my head knocked up and I don't feel right
This whole stupid world is bothering me
All I really want now is somebody to...

Dance with me
Dance with me
Dancing free
When you dance with me

I got some records and I got a stereo
Lots of Sex Pistols and Curtis Blow
When I'm dancing I really feel great
Cause I don't think about all the things I hate
I love dancing more than getting drunk
Dancing to rock n' roll, dancing to punk
If there is anything that is bothering you
Any time, any day, you are welcome to...

Dance with me
Dance with me
Dancing free
When you dance with me

So you lost your job, someone stole your car
Your girlfriend left to become a star
Tried to kill the cat in the washing machine
So what, who cares? What does it all mean?

Dance with me
Dance with me

Dancing free
When you dance with me

Overall Meaning

The Dead Milkmen's "Dance With Me" seems to be a song about escapism. The lyrics portray an individual who is feeling down and burdened by the weight of the world. The singer is trying to forget his problems and escape from the pain that he's facing in his life. He describes his inability to sleep and feeling wired, which suggests that he might be experiencing some form of insomnia. The "stupid girl" mentioned in the lyrics seems to be a reference to a failed relationship, and her presence in his life has caused him to feel lost and confused.

The singer describes how he tries to escape his problems by getting drunk and fighting, but this only leads to him feeling worse. However, he has found solace in dance. He loves dancing to rock n' roll and punk music because it makes him forget about all the things he hates. Dancing is a form of catharsis that allows him to release his anger and frustration with the world. He wants someone to dance with him, and when he does, he feels free.

Overall, "Dance With Me" is a song about finding freedom and release from the stresses of life through dance. The lyrics suggest that dancing is a powerful way to forget one's problems and feel free, even if only for a moment.

Line by Line Meaning

I feel ugly and dirty and tired
I am in a state of exhaustion and feel awful about myself physically and emotionally

I can't get to sleep my head is wired
I am having difficulty sleeping due to overstimulation of my mind

Can't get my mind off a stupid girl
I am preoccupied with thoughts of a girl who has caused trouble in my life

Came into my life and wrecked my world
The girl has caused chaos and disruption in my life

Got myself drunk got into a fight
I coped with my stresses by drinking, but it led to negative consequences like getting into a physical altercation

Got my head knocked up and I don't feel right
The physical blow to my head has left me feeling unwell

This whole stupid world is bothering me
I am frustrated and overwhelmed with the problems and troubles of the world

All I really want now is somebody to...
Despite my negative feelings, what I truly desire is someone to connect with and share joy

Dance with me
Dancing is a way for me to escape my thoughts and find happiness

Dance with me
I am inviting someone to dance with me, to share in this simple yet meaningful pleasure

Dancing free
Dancing is an expression of freedom and liberation from negative thoughts

When you dance with me
By dancing with someone else, I hope to create a positive, shared experience

I got some records and I got a stereo
In my alone time, I enjoy listening to music and appreciating its power to uplift me

Lots of Sex Pistols and Curtis Blow
My musical taste covers different genres, but all help me find release through dancing

When I'm dancing I really feel great
Dancing is a source of true happiness and elation for me

Cause I don't think about all the things I hate
When I dance, my thoughts and energy are directed towards the positive and I find myself free of negative thoughts

I love dancing more than getting drunk
Of all the ways to escape stress, dancing is my preferred method because it encourages positive experiences

Dancing to rock n' roll, dancing to punk
My passion for dancing extends across different genres of music

If there is anything that is bothering you
I want to be a supportive friend for you, someone who cares about your well-being

Any time, any day, you are welcome to...
I am always here to dance with you and to share in the joy that comes with it

So you lost your job, someone stole your car
I acknowledge that you may have gone through difficult times, but there is always a way to find happiness through dancing

Your girlfriend left to become a star
The loss of a significant other can be really hard, but there are still joys and pleasures to be found in life

Tried to kill the cat in the washing machine
I recognize that sometimes people can do things that seem irrational or crazy, but dancing can act as a release from this kind of stress

So what, who cares? What does it all mean?
In the grand scheme of things, our problems may not matter so much. So, let's find joy and happiness where we can

Contributed by Carson S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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