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.
Gates of the Country
Black Lab Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Back in New York
The 31st floor
It seems somehow everything's changed
The kitchen too small
Plates on the wall
The sound of machinery
Where have you been?
Who were you running with?
Wasn't he someone you used to call home?
Where is the ring?
Where is the boy who went traveling alone?
[Chorus:]
She is much better without me.
She walks through the gates of the country
Her hands at her side
And I smile as I watch her walk by
Somehow I see there are ships in her eyes
She is better off now
June
The curtain is shut
The patterns are cut
The maid who will wake you at dawn
Pulls out a chair
Pulls down your hair
It's just like you wanted
July
What's going on?
What are you running from?
Why are you sleeping alone on the floor?
Some people change
Others hang on 'til they can't anymore
[Chorus]
She is much better without me
She walks through the gates of the country
Hands in the air
And I smile as I watch her walk by
Somehow I see there are ships in her eyes, yeah
She is much better now.
The song “Gates of the Country” by Black Lab is a heartbreaking story of a man who realizes he's lost the love of his life. The song is structured as a series of reflections from April to July, chronicling the man's thoughts as he watches his former partner move on from their relationship. In April, the man is back in New York after what seems to be some time away, but everything feels different now. He notices the small kitchen and plates on the wall, and the sound of machinery feels oppressive.
In May, the man wonders where his former partner has been and who she's been running with. He's hurt to think that she's found someone else so quickly and wonders where the ring and the boy who went traveling alone have disappeared to. By June, the man is resigned to the fact that the relationship is over. The patterns are cut, and the maid is serving breakfast just the way she likes it. In July, the man watches his former partner walk away from him, knowing that she's better off without him. As she walks through the gates of the country, he sees the ships in her eyes, a sign of the bright future that lies ahead of her.
Overall, “Gates of the Country” is a poignant portrayal of the end of a relationship. The verses capture the man's feelings of confusion, hurt, and resignation, while the chorus drives home the message that sometimes it's best to let go and allow someone to move on to a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
April
The beginning of a situation where someone is living in New York on the 31st floor, where everything seems to be changing including the size of the kitchen and the sound of machinery.
Back in New York
Returning to New York after being away.
The 31st floor
The level of a building where someone is living.
It seems somehow everything's changed
Perceiving differences upon return to a place.
The kitchen too small
The kitchen has shrunk in size from what it was previously.
Plates on the wall
Decorative plates are on display on the walls.
The sound of machinery
There are noises or sounds coming from machinery that can be heard.
May
The start of a new month.
Where have you been?
Asking someone where she has been.
Who were you running with?
Inquiring about the people she was spending time with.
Wasn't he someone you used to call home?
Questioning whether or not she was in the company of someone she had been close to previously.
Where is the ring?
Asking where her ring is.
Where is the boy who went traveling alone?
Asking where the person who left on a journey alone is.
[Chorus:]
The recurring segment of the song.
She is much better without me.
Reflecting on how the person you are singing about is better off without you.
She walks through the gates of the country
Imagining how the girl is progressing through the next phase of her life.
Her hands at her side
Noticing that she is standing with her arms down.
And I smile as I watch her walk by
Feeling content while watching her go on her way.
Somehow I see there are ships in her eyes
Noticing that she has big plans for the future.
She is better off now
Concluding that she is better without you and leaving that chapter of your life behind.
June
The beginning of a new month.
The curtain is shut
The curtain has been closed to block out sunlight.
The patterns are cut
The designs have been finalized.
The maid who will wake you at dawn
The person who will wake you up early in the morning.
Pulls out a chair
Moving a chair away from the table or from the wall.
Pulls down your hair
Taking your hair down from an updo.
It's just like you wanted
Everything is happening as planned.
July
The beginning of a new month.
What's going on?
Asking what is happening or what is wrong.
What are you running from?
Asking why someone is fleeing something.
Why are you sleeping alone on the floor?
Asking about why someone is choosing to sleep on the ground by herself.
Some people change
Observing that some people transform as they adapt to new circumstances.
Others hang on 'til they can't anymore
Noticing that some people try to cling to what they know until they can no longer do so.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PAUL DURHAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind