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.
Close To You
Black Lab Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Get me high on something show me what to do I get by on nothing as long as something keeps me close to you
There's the matter of your fineness then there's how I'd pay my way if you fall on my sword I will bleed out for us both if you fall on the road there will be nothing that I couldn't hold
Get me high on something show me what to do I get by on nothing as long as something keeps me close to you
The lyrics to Black Lab's song Close To You explore the theme of unrequited love and the desperate longing to be close to someone who may not feel the same way. The singer begins by acknowledging the impossibility of his desires, admitting that what he wants may not be attainable. He wonders if there would even be a place for him in the end, despite his hopes and dreams. This sets the emotional tone for the rest of the song, highlighting the sense of desperation and heartache that the singer feels.
The lyrics then shift to a more direct plea for the subject of the singer's affections to take notice of him. The singer asks to be shown what to do, to be given some kind of direction or purpose, so that he can stay close to the one he loves. He admits that he gets by on nothing, but as long as he feels close to the person he desires, he will continue to hold on. The second verse continues with this theme of sacrificing anything, even the singer's own life, to be with the one he loves. He pledges to bleed out for both of them, and he promises to hold onto anything that she may drop along the way.
Overall, the lyrics to Close To You convey a deep sense of longing, desperation, and unrequited love. The singer's pleading voice and poignant lyrics perfectly capture the emotional rollercoaster of longing to be close to someone who seems just out of reach.
Line by Line Meaning
Let's pretend I told you what I wanted make believe it fell within my reach
Imagining a scenario where I tell you what I desire, and we act like it's possible to achieve.
would there be a place for what I hoped for? in the end would there be a place for me?
Is there a place in your heart and your life, where what I desire and who I am can fit in?
Get me high on something show me what to do
Please provide me with something that will elevate my experience and guide me on the right path.
I get by on nothing as long as something keeps me close to you
I may have nothing materialistically, but as long as I have the feeling of being close to you, I'm content.
There's the matter of your fineness then there's how I'd pay my way
Your attractiveness is indisputable, but the real question is how I would fit into your life financially.
if you fall on my sword I will bleed out for us both
In case of a problem, I am willing to take the blame and suffer the consequences for the sake of our relationship.
if you fall on the road there will be nothing that I couldn't hold
If you ever struggle or face difficulties on your path, I will always be there to lend my strength and support.
Contributed by Sophie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
optimoblunt
i have never heard one song i did not like...this band is soo good,
Rowan dubin-masuck
black lab is fantastic... enough said.