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)
Shoot Out the Lights
Mad Caddies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the dead of night we belong
Deep in the shadows of the streets of hope
We won't give up what we have won
Oh won't you shoot out lights
Shout out the light before dawn
Oh won't you shoot out lights
The search parties with their razor lights
Could never capture our wicked love
They look for reason in their cold cathedrals
It's so far from where we have run
Oh won't you shoot out lights
Shout out the light before dawn
Oh won't you shoot out lights
Shout out the light before dawn
Beneath the covers in our cheap disguises
In the dead of night we belong
Beautiful losers in the ghetto fire
Villains kept alive in their songs
Oh won't you shoot out lights
Shout out the light before dawn
Oh won't you shoot out lights
Shout out the light before dawn
Oh won't you shoot out lights
Shout out the light before dawn
Oh won't you shoot out lights
Shout out the light before dawn
The song "Shoot Out the Lights" by Mad Caddies is an intense track that speaks of rebellion and standing up against those who want to control us. The song begins with the idea that we all have a side of us that we keep hidden beneath our masks and that we belong to the night. The lyrics then describe a world where the streets are filled with hope, but we must fight to hold onto what we've won.
The chorus then comes in with a strong call to action to "shoot out the lights" and "shout out the light before dawn." This message is a powerful statement that we must not back down in the face of adversity and must be willing to fight against the forces that seek to control us.
The second verse describes a world where outsiders are always being hunted down, but they will never be able to capture the "wicked love" that people share. The lyrics then go on to describe how these outsiders look for justification in their "cold cathedrals" which is a reference to places of worship, but also implies that they are disconnected from reality.
The final verse brings the song to a stunning conclusion, describing those who are seen as "Beautiful losers in the ghetto fire" as the real heroes. The lyrics speak of those who are kept alive in their songs, implying that they are remembered for what they stood for and what they fought for.
Overall, "Shoot Out the Lights" is an uplifting song that celebrates rebellion and individualism at its core.
Line by Line Meaning
Beneath the covers in our cheap disguises
We are hiding our identities under cheap disguises.
In the dead of night we belong
We feel like we belong in the darkness of night.
Deep in the shadows of the streets of hope
We hide in the shadows of hopeful streets.
We won't give up what we have won
We refuse to give up what we have earned.
Oh won't you shoot out lights
We ask someone to shoot out the lights.
Shout out the light before dawn
We want the lights to be destroyed before dawn.
The search parties with their razor lights
The authorities are using their searchlights to find us.
Could never capture our wicked love
They can never capture our forbidden love.
They look for reason in their cold cathedrals
The authorities seek justification in their institutions.
It's so far from where we have run
Their search is futile, as we have escaped far away.
Beautiful losers in the ghetto fire
We are a group of attractive outcasts in a poor neighborhood.
Villains kept alive in their songs
We are portrayed as villains in their society's legends.
Contributed by Joshua J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Tremtize
Freakin, love this song!!!
Allan
2:40 what a spetacular moment!!!
Paul Roggero
It's all good with the Caddies..
Boby Priambodo
Dirty Rice a.k.a Nasi Kotor a.k.a sego reget
Frido Lino
Äss hammer Lied schön vo Md das sie nach 7 lange jahre eus mit emmene durchus starche album verwöhned
Delon Williams
I'm like number 420
Armand Berry
cookie cutter cardboard. cool harmony and all but just too plain and weak
Phil Kasafir
Man, some people are so hard to please... I love this song, it goes back to the days of the Trojan Ska, it's a unique take for the Caddies and they did really well!
GT6SuzukaTimeTrials
Most of their songs are simplistic and that's why it works for me.
katoness
@Phil Kasafir Agreed.