We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.
/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $1 CAD  or more

     

about

The Administration started as a guitar riff and some chords in 3/4 time. The title (and concept) was settled on rather arbitrarily, as I just wanted six syllables to sing over the chorus chords, and “the administration” fit. But once that concept was admitted it gradually grew into a full song as stanzas inspired by Brave New World and 1984 were written and rewritten.

Admin is in B major, but harmonically it borrows from both the Lydian and Locrian (diminished) modes. The opening progression is actually nothing but a move from the major chord, to the diminished, back to the major, and up to the Lydian (with an augmented 4th). I think it’s one of the more interesting chord progressions I’ve come up with, and if it imitates any existing work I’m not aware of it.

That’s not to say I didn’t get help; there were two things I did consciously imitate while completing the song. The melody in the second pre-chorus (“who keeps us greedy…”) was inspired by the theme from the Simpsons, itself a Lydian melody. And the bridge progression was adapted from the first four chords of Chim-Chim-Cheree from Mary Poppins. So there’s some Disney for ya.

- Steve

(PS The audio clip in the bridge is taken from the Feb. 21, 2007, session of Parliament, in which partisan bickering seemed to reach new heights. I love the bit where the Speaker of the House himself comments, “We’re wasting a lot of time”!)

lyrics

Trusting your secrets to no one
Ensures that no one
Remembers your name

Just keeping tabs on the neighbours
As a neighbourly favour
We feel no shame

Our children are raised by another
By our big brother
The nanny cam shows

We struggle to pay our back taxes
As the tax man relaxes
And that's how it goes

The administration
The administration
The administration
The administra

Leave work and go to your night job
It's always the right job
For minimum wage

Father forgive us our debts
As we're placing our bets
That they'll never get paid

Who keeps us greedy
When we're getting by?

And who keeps us down
When we wanna get high?

The administration

credits

from Brunswick Project: Alpha (Week 1​-​8), released October 5, 2012
Music / Lyrics: Steve Cruickshank
Production: Steve Cruickshank

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Brunswick Project Toronto, Ontario

52 SONGS. 52 WEEKS.

Brunswick Project is weekly music release from two of Toronto's most unique voices, Steve Cruickshank and Joel Buxton

Listen for a new track on Soundcloud every Tuesday, with 8 song EPs released bi-monthly on Bandcamp.
... more

contact / help

Contact Brunswick Project

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this track or account

If you like Brunswick Project, you may also like: