Founding members Chuck Robertson, Sascha Lazor, Todd Rosenberg, Carter Benson and James Malis started the group in high school but the band's membership has changed frequently since its inception. Drummer Todd Rosenberg left the band in 1999, Benson left the band in 2002, and bassist Mark Iversen left the band in 2006. The current lineup consists of:
* Chuck Robertson (lead vocals/rhythm guitar/primary lyricist)
* Sascha Lazor (lead guitar/banjo/primary composer),
* Keith Douglas (trumpet/backing vocals)
* Ed Hernandez (trombone)
* Brian Flenniken (drums/percussion),
* Cris Badham (bass guitar).
The band used to play under the name The Ivy League, but in 1996 they changed their name after signing to the Honest Don's Records label to avoid confusion (and potential litigation) with two prior bands that went by the same moniker. The band's debut album, Quality Soft Core, was released the following year. After the release of the album, the band was signed to Fat Mike's label Fat Wreck Chords, through which the Mad Caddies have since released 4 studio albums, an EP and a live album.
Discography
* Quality Soft Core (1997)
* Duck and Cover (1998)
* Rock the Plank (2001)
* Just One More (2003)
* Songs in the Key of Eh! (Live from Toronto) (2004)
* Keep It Going (5/1/2007)
* Consentual Selections (2010)
EP
* The Holiday Has Been Cancelled (2000)
* 2007 Tour EP (Sold only on their 2007 tour, with 2 new tracks from Keep It Going, plus 4 older songs) (2007)
Big Brother
Mad Caddies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We are one and the same
Like buildings of our generation,
They're in our name
They'll censor it with a whistle now
While back in 1952
The mercy of our mother
There is nothing left to do
Pollutes temptation
We have reserved bookings
For the fathers of our nation
His thing's gone too far
We're entirely described
The peeling microwaves
And a telescopic eye
Intimate dimension keeping
Perfect track of time
The rolling mass of thunder
On a simulated line
We are all one
It can't be undone
Were stuck
There's no future!
If I had my way
I would fly far away,
Where no one else could find me
And build a home
I could call my very own
The way it was supposed to be
The lyrics of Mad Caddies's song "Big Brother" challenge the concept of individuality and freedom in a society that is becoming increasingly controlled and monitored. The opening lines "We are one in a million / We are one and the same" imply that people are not as unique as they believe they are, and that they are controlled and influenced by the system. The reference to buildings with names that represent different generations highlights the idea of people being categorized and labeled according to their generation. The line "They'll censor it with a whistle now" suggests that individuality and freedom of expression are being suppressed and controlled by the authority.
The lyrics also allude to the novel "1984" by George Orwell, with lines such as "The peeling microwaves / And a telescopic eye" referring to the surveillance state created by Big Brother in the novel. The line "Intimate dimension keeping / Perfect track of time" further emphasizes this idea. The reference to "the fathers of our nation" implies that these oppressive systems have been created and maintained by those in power for their own benefit.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "We are all one / It can't be undone / We're stuck / There's no future!" which suggests a hopeless resignation to the idea that individuals cannot escape the system and its control over their lives. The final verse, however, provides a glimmer of hope with the lyrics "If I had my way / I would fly far away / Where no one else could find me / And build a home / I could call my very own / The way it was supposed to be," implying that despite the oppressive system, individuals can still dream of freedom and a better life.
Line by Line Meaning
We are one in a million
We are a unique and rare group of people
We are one and the same
We share a common identity and purpose
Like buildings of our generation, They're in our name
Our accomplishments and progress are part of our legacy
They'll censor it with a whistle now While back in 1952
In the past, freedom of expression was not as restricted as it is today
The mercy of our mother There is nothing left to do
Even though we are in a dire situation, we cannot change our circumstances
It's only human nature Pollutes temptation
Humans are inherently flawed and susceptible to corruption
We have reserved bookings For the fathers of our nation
Our leaders are given priority over the common people
His thing's gone too far We're entirely described
The government's surveillance and control have become excessive
The peeling microwaves And a telescopic eye
Technology is used to monitor and invade our privacy
Intimate dimension keeping Perfect track of time
Every aspect of our lives is being monitored and analyzed
The rolling mass of thunder On a simulated line
Our society is being controlled and manipulated by external forces
We are all one It can't be undone Were stuck There's no future!
We are trapped in a system that does not allow for change or progress
If I had my way I would fly far away, Where no one else could find me And build a home I could call my very own The way it was supposed to be
The only way to escape the oppression and control is to remove oneself from society and live a solitary life
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: DAVID BOWIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind