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)
Whatcha Gonna Do
Mad Caddies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm setting sail on unknown seas
and I'm haunted by insecurities
I'm standing on the edge of dream
Colliding with the light of this real life scene
And I don't feel a thing until the pain comes
And when it's all said and done would I just cut and run
Sometimes I'm so numb I don't know
or would I just let go
[Chorus:]
Whatcha gonna do when it's on you boy
Whatcha gonna say when it's no no more
Whatcha really gonna do when it's all through boy
Whatcha gonna say when it's over now
Maybe it's the time of the year
but I don't feel my soul shine
Locked up inside and floating on the cheap wine
But there's a smell in the air
and I swear something's there
Blowing in on a California night
So if it's all gone and I can't go on
Well I'm sure as hell not ready to die
[Chorus]
In Mad Caddies's song Whatcha Gonna Do, the artist is expressing their introspective thoughts as they are set to embark on a journey on unknown seas. The artist seems to be struggling with insecurities and standing on the edge of reality and fantasy. They express their fear of feeling nothing until the pain arrives and wonders if they would cut and run when faced with obstacles or stand and fight. The chorus poses the question "Whatcha gonna do when it's on you boy, Whatcha gonna say when it's no no more" which implies taking ownership of one's actions and decisions. The artist is asking themselves and possibly the listener, how will they react when faced with challenges and when everything is said and done?
The second verse continues with the artist's melancholic contemplation, where they feel like they are just going through the motions of life like a robot, sipping on cheap wine to keep them going. However, they sense that something is coming and that they are not ready to give up on life. They express a determination to keep going and not give up, even though they may be feeling lost and insecure.
Overall, the song Whatcha Gonna Do explores the struggle of facing one's insecurities and fears, and the artist is encouraging the listener to take responsibility for their decisions and actions despite the challenges they may face.
Line by Line Meaning
Layin' awake again and I don't know what's happening
Unable to sleep, unsure about the current situation
I'm setting sail on unknown seas
Venturing into uncharted territory
and I'm haunted by insecurities
Fearful and uncertain, plagued by self-doubt
I'm standing on the edge of dream
On the brink of achieving a goal
Colliding with the light of this real life scene
Confronting the harsh realities of life
And I don't feel a thing until the pain comes
Emotionally numb until faced with hardship
And when it's all said and done would I just cut and run
Wondering if the easy way out is the best choice
Sometimes I'm so numb I don't know
Occasionally feeling emotionally detached and unaware
If it happened tonight would I stand and fight
Questioning one's ability to face a difficult situation
or would I just let go
Considering giving up and accepting defeat
Whatcha gonna do when it's on you boy
Asking what one will do when faced with a challenge
Whatcha gonna say when it's no no more
Asking how someone will react when things go wrong
Whatcha really gonna do when it's all through boy
Questioning how someone will handle the aftermath of a situation
Whatcha gonna say when it's over now
Asking how someone will respond to the end of something
Maybe it's the time of the year
Blaming the season for one's emotional state
but I don't feel my soul shine
Feeling spiritually depleted
Locked up inside and floating on the cheap wine
Feeling trapped and drowning one's sorrows in alcohol
But there's a smell in the air
Sensing a change in the atmosphere
and I swear something's there
Believing there is a presence or a sign
Blowing in on a California night
Feeling a sense of possibility and new opportunities
So if it's all gone and I can't go on
Contemplating the worst-case scenario
Well I'm sure as hell not ready to die
Determined to keep living and fighting
Contributed by Lila S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.