In 1998, Paul Durham and his rock band, Black Lab, released their Geffen Records debut Your Body Above Me to critical acclaim. The album yielded the top 10 rock and alternative single "Wash it Away," and the top 40 ac and pop track "Time Ago."
Paul Durham grew up in Twin Falls, Idaho before moving to San Francisco to pursue his passion for musical invention. He recorded and toured with a group of friends under the moniker “Durham,” and made an acoustic-based singer/songwriter record with celebrated jazz producer Lee Townsend. (now available at blacklabworld.com under the title Ten Million Years: songs from the nineteen nineties).
“Durham” split, but a deal with Geffen Records followed, a new band was built, and Black Lab's debut was tagged as "one of this year's breakout records" (Billboard). Hollywood called, and the band contributed songs to the soundtracks for Can't Hardly Wait, Varsity Blues, Permanent Midnight, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. After a year of touring, Black Lab was poised to fulfill their destiny as "the American U2" (San Francisco Chronicle) when their record label was quickly shuttered. Over the next two years, Durham left his band, fired his manager and moved to LA. "In the end, all I had were my guitars and the songs I was writing." Durham wanted to control the sound around his voice, so he bought a computer and learned to use it. "I had to get back to how it was in high school -- just me and my four-track."
The resulting demos got Durham a new deal with Epic Records. "The first thing I did was buy a giant ProTools system." The only problem was, he didn't know how to install the software. On advice from a friend, Durham hired Andy Ellis to set up his studio. "So, we're sitting around waiting for the computer to reboot," remembers Durham, "And this guy picks up my guitar, without asking. I was cringing inside, afraid of what he would play. But he was great. I wanted to sing over the top of everything he played. Pretty soon, we were writing together."
At 23, Ellis was already an accomplished guitarist, keyboard player and programmer. He had been working as an assistant to some of the best engineers in the business and knew how to twiddle some serious knobs. Durham had found the missing link between what he heard in his head and what came out of the speakers. "Working with Andy is the first time collaboration has ever been easy," says Durham. "Instead of the whole hell-is-other-people thing, we have a blast just making sounds.
See the Sun has a depth and emotional range that broadens with each listen. Much of the album was mixed by Tom Lord-Alge (Live, Blink 182, Avril Lavigne). What shines brightest is the band's pop sensibility – the liquid swirl of "Remember," the epic sweep of "See the Sun," the raging loss of "Without You," and the open-armed surrender of "Lonely Boy."
“Learn to Crawl” was tapped as the fourth track on the platinum Spider-Man soundtrack. Produced by Durham and veteran mixer/producer Tom Lord-Alge, the song wraps an aggressive guitar riff around what Rolling Stone calls "Black Lab's tightly spun, highly melodic rock."
The title of "Ecstasy," a pulsing shadow that wakes to full rock glory, was inspired by Durham's experience recording: "The freedom to do what I wanted – in the studio across the hall from my bedroom – was amazing. I would get up late, go to the beach, then work until four or five in the morning. I got to record this album the same way I wrote it."
While See the Sun represents a zenith in Black Lab’s songwriting and production, the band continues to push and expand its sound into uncharted territory, contributing a vicious techno track called “This Blood” to the worldwide hit movie Blade : Trinity. Black Lab also continues to produce music for television (MTV’s Real World, “What I Like About You,” “The Days”) as well as the upcoming film Lovewrecked.
The third Black Lab album, entitled "Passion Leaves A Trace" was released on January 16th, 2007. Highlights include the majestic "Mine Again", the jet-black remorse of "This Night" (featured in the trailer for The Shield Season 6, and on the episode "Out of the Chute" of House), the hook-laden driving force that is "The Real You", and the achingly beautiful "Ghost In Your Mind".
All things Black Lab, including streaming and free downloads from the new and past albums, can be found at blacklabworld.com.
Circus Lights
Black Lab Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Under the circus lights
Want to see you high above the ground
You know I've swallowed fire
I've fallen off the wire
Too many times before
And you're asking me
More life more heat
You're asking me
Shaking, burning
To show you more
More life more heat
You ask and
We can't say what comes
When these circus lights go out
I'll be the tattooed man
You can be the acrobat
I'll try to catch you when you fall
We'll be together then
Like a pair of Siamese's twins
Entwined against the floor
Tell me what more could you ask for
More more life more heat
You're asking me
Shaking burning
To show you more
More life more heat
You ask and
We can't say what comes
When these circus lights go out
When these circus lights go
When these circus lights go out
Are you innocent no one's innocent
Still like to hear the big crowd roar
When I see that light
Everybody dressed in white
Will you be there by the door
Will show me what I'm looking for
More life more heat I'm askin' please
Shaking burning, show more love
More life more heat
You ask and we can't say what comes
When these circus lights go out
When these circus lights go
I slid away, what's going on
I slid away, what's going on
I slid away, what's going on
I slid away, what's going on
The song "Circus Lights" by Black Lab explores the idea of living life on the edge, taking risks, and living in the moment. The lyrics paint a metaphorical picture of two people being lost in the excitement of the circus, and the lead singer is asking his partner to take things to the next level. He wants to see her high above the ground, he wants to catch her when she falls, and he wants her to show him the thrill of the circus.
The chorus repeats the line "More life, more heat" and suggests that the intensity of the circus is not enough. There is an implicit desire for greater connection, passion, and energy. The song speaks to the idea of finding someone who is willing to take risks with you and enjoy the moment. The closing lines "I slid away, what's going on" suggest a yearning to escape and live life on the edge.
The song's lyrics suggest a sense of urgency and excitement that is heightened by the energetic music. The drumbeat pulses throughout the song, supporting the lead singer's raspy voice. The melody deftly combines alternative rock elements with a hint of pop, making it catchy and memorable. The song's lyrics are relatable to anyone who has ever been in a relationship where the passion has subsided, and they want to reignite the fires of love.
Line by Line Meaning
Come on and spend the night
Join me for a night at the circus
Under the circus lights
Experience the magic of the circus lights
Want to see you high above the ground
I want to see you performing daring stunts high up in the air
You know I've swallowed fire
I've done dangerous and exciting things before
I've fallen off the wire
I've failed and made mistakes before, especially in my performances
Too many times before
I've had my share of setbacks and challenges
And you're asking me
You want me to do more, to push myself further
To show you more love
You want me to express my feelings for you more deeply
More life more heat
You want more excitement and passion in our relationship
You're asking me
You're urging me to take risks and be more daring
Shaking, burning
I'm feeling nervous and excited at the same time
To show you more
To demonstrate my abilities and skills to you
You ask and
You keep pushing me to be better
We can't say what comes
We don't know what the future holds
When these circus lights go out
When the excitement and thrill of the moment fades away
I'll be the tattooed man
I'll be a colorful and unconventional performer
You can be the acrobat
You can perform graceful and daring acrobatic maneuvers
I'll try to catch you when you fall
I'll be there for you when you need support and care
We'll be together then
We'll be united and connected in our performances
Like a pair of Siamese's twins
Like two performers joined together in their acts
Entwined against the floor
Lying down and intertwined with each other in a symbolic and intimate way
Tell me what more could you ask for
What else do you want or expect from me?
Are you innocent no one's innocent
We've all done things that we're not proud of
Still like to hear the big crowd roar
We still crave the attention and admiration of our audience
When I see that light
When I'm on the stage and the spotlight is on me
Everybody dressed in white
The audience wearing white clothes, as a symbol of purity and innocence
Will you be there by the door
Will you be there to support me, even if things don't go according to plan?
Will show me what I'm looking for
Will guide and assist me in my quest for meaning and purpose
More life more heat I'm askin' please
I want more excitement and passion in my life, please
Shaking burning, show more love
I'm feeling anxious and passionate, please show me more affection and care
You ask and we can't say what comes
We don't know what the future holds, but we're willing to take risks and explore new possibilities
When these circus lights go out
When the excitement and thrill of the moment fades away
I slid away, what's going on
I'm feeling confused and uncertain
I slid away, what's going on
I'm feeling lost and disconnected
I slid away, what's going on
I'm feeling overwhelmed and scared
I slid away, what's going on
I'm struggling to find my place in the world
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PAUL DURHAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind