Written by frontman Kevin Rowland, the song was released in 1979 on the independent label Oddball Records.

[1] The song addresses anti-Irish sentiment that had become prevalent during the ongoing troubles in Northern Ireland, with Rowland himself being of Irish parentage.

It references a range of Irish playwrights and writers including Oscar Wilde, Brendan Behan, Seán O'Casey, George Bernard Shaw, Samuel Beckett, Eugene O'Neill, Edna O’Brien and Laurence Sterne.

"Dance Stance" was performed by Rowland (vocals, credited as 'Carlo Rolan'), Kevin "Al" Archer (vocals, guitar), "Big" Jim Paterson (trombone), Geoff "JB" Blythe (saxophone), Steve "Babyface" Spooner (alto saxophone), Pete Saunders (keyboard), Pete Williams (bass) and Bobby "Jnr" Ward (drums).

A re-recorded version appeared on the band's debut album, Searching for the Young Soul Rebels, under the original working title "Burn It Down".