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.
Fall
Black Lab Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The air is clear as glass
Glasses smeared with grease
Everything i see
And the quiet
Is louder than the roar
Louder than the ocean
And i fall
Further than i imagine
Fall onto my knees
You′re everywhere around me
You're all that i can see
And the ground
It rises where i go
Up in each direction
Thru seven feet of snow
And the cold
You′re fakin your laugh
You're faking your warmth
I can tell that you've got one foot out
My swinging door
And i fall
Further than i imagine
Fall onto my knees
You′re everything around me
You′re all that i can see
And if one day we're together
After losing all this time
Something fall between us
Shadows and blinds
Shadows and blinds
Shadows and blinds
Shadows and blinds
And i fall
Further than i imagine
Fall onto my knees
You′re everything around me
You're all that i can see
And if one day we′re together
After losing all this time
Something fall between us
Shadows and blinds
The lyrics to Black Lab's song "Fall" depict a sense of clarity and introspection. The opening lines describe the air being clear as glass, but with smudged glasses that distort the view of everything around. This suggests a metaphorical perspective on the world, where the singer's perception of reality is clouded or obscured.
The next lines emphasize the power of silence, as it becomes louder than any noise or distraction. The quietness is compared to a roaring ocean, overpowering and drowning out everything and everyone around. This reinforces a feeling of isolation or detachment from the external world.
The chorus reveals a deep emotional vulnerability as the singer falls further than they could ever imagine. This descending motion is not just physical, but also metaphorical, representing a plunge into the depths of their emotions. They fall onto their knees, perhaps symbolizing a position of surrender or submission. The presence of the other person is all-encompassing, becoming the focus of their attention and their entire world.
The verse following the chorus portrays a challenging environment. The ground rises wherever they go and is covered in deep snow, which enhances the sense of difficulty or obstacles faced. The coldness of the other person becomes apparent, as they fake laughter and warmth. The singer can sense that the other person has one foot out the door, indicating a lack of commitment or emotional investment.
The repetition of the chorus emphasizes the intensity of the singer's emotions, their complete surrender to the other person's influence. The mention of losing time suggests a longing for a reconnection or reunion. However, something, represented by "shadows and blinds," falls between them, potentially symbolizing unresolved issues or barriers that prevent a complete reconciliation.
Overall, "Fall" conveys a mixture of vulnerability, longing, and emotional obstacles in a relationship. The singer falls deeply into their emotions, surrendering themselves to the presence and impact of the other person. However, there are barriers and uncertainties that hinder a complete reunion, leaving them in a state of contemplation and introspection.
Line by Line Meaning
And the air
The atmosphere around me
The air is clear as glass
The clarity and transparency of my surroundings
Glasses smeared with grease
My perspective tainted or clouded
Everything I see
All that is within my view
And the quiet
The absence of noise
Is louder than the roar
The silence is more overwhelming than any loud sound
Louder than the ocean
More overpowering than the vastness of the sea
Sound that drowns out everyone everything
The silence that overwhelms and consumes my thoughts
And I fall
I descend or lose control
Further than I imagine
Deeper into my emotions than I could have predicted
Fall onto my knees
Collapse or become overwhelmed
You're everywhere around me
Your presence surrounds me completely
You're all that I can see
You are the only thing I focus on
And the ground
The earth beneath me
It rises where I go
It elevates or grows higher as I move
Up in each direction
In every possible way
Thru seven feet of snow
Despite facing obstacles and difficulties
And the cold
The chilling temperature
You're fakin your laugh
You pretend to be happy or amused
You're faking your warmth
You pretend to care or show affection
I can tell that you've got one foot out
I sense that you are not fully committed or present
My swinging door
My unstable and uncertain relationship
And if one day we're together
In the event that we reunite
After losing all this time
Following a period of separation or absence
Something fall between us
An obstacle or conflict arises
Shadows and blinds
Metaphorical barriers and darkness
And I fall
I descend or lose control
Further than I imagine
Deeper into my emotions than I could have predicted
Fall onto my knees
Collapse or become overwhelmed
You're everything around me
You encompass my entire existence
You're all that I can see
You are the only thing I focus on
And if one day we're together
In the event that we reunite
After losing all this time
Following a period of separation or absence
Something fall between us
An obstacle or conflict arises
Shadows and blinds
Metaphorical barriers and darkness
Shadows and blinds
Metaphorical barriers and darkness
Shadows and blinds
Metaphorical barriers and darkness
Writer(s): William Andrew Ellis
Contributed by Jason T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.