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.
Good Day
Black Lab Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can’t stand to see you there just staring into space.
Seven lonely hours from now the sun will set.
And will we still be fighting then or will you follow me?
Let’s go back to bed, we’ll see what we got left.
She said
Today is a good day.
Today is a good day.
If you woke up this morning with the house on fire...
what would you take what would you leave behind?
If you woke up this morning here and I was gone...
what would you regret?
What do you wish you’d said?
Would you drop some bomb?
Were you faking it all along?
Today is a good day.
Today is a good day.
Today is a good day to die.
Today is a good day, as good as any other day.
Today is a good day to die.
Could you be satisfied with me?
Could you be satisfied to be?
Hey you who wanted to be free...
we forgot to ask what freedom means.
It’s a good day.
It’s a good day.
Today is a good day to die.
Today is a good day, as good as the next day.
Today is a good day to die.
The lyrics to Black Lab's "Good Day" paint a picture of a couple fighting, with broken glass scattered and tension thick in the air. Despite the anger and frustration, the singer's partner is able to offer a glimmer of hope by suggesting that they move past the disagreement and start anew. The chorus repeats the phrase "Today is a good day to die," which at first may seem ominous or morbid, but upon further examination, it becomes clear that the song is actually about embracing each day as if it were your last, rather than dwelling on the past or fixating on the future.
The verses of the song pose thought-provoking questions, asking what one would value most in the face of tragedy or loss. The line "Hey you who wanted to be free... we forgot to ask what freedom means" speaks to the idea that sometimes we chase a vague concept of freedom without fully realizing what it is we're seeking. The song's overall message is one of appreciating the present moment and living each day to its fullest, rather than getting caught up in regrets or worries.
Line by Line Meaning
Pull the broken glass out of my hands and face.
I need to remove the physical wounds caused by our arguments.
I can’t stand to see you there just staring into space.
I'm feeling hurt that you're defeated and unmotivated.
Seven lonely hours from now the sun will set.
Time is passing and we are still at odds with each other.
And will we still be fighting then or will you follow me?
I'm asking whether we will continue our disagreements, or if we can reconcile and make amends.
Let’s go back to bed, we’ll see what we got left.
We should rest and regroup to assess the state of our relationship.
She said
A woman's voice interjects, perhaps as a reminder or counterpoint to the singer.
Today is a good day.
Today is presented as an opportunity for change or transformation.
Today is a good day to die.
The artist is suggesting that dying, whether metaphorically or literally, may be preferable to continuing their struggles.
If you woke up this morning with the house on fire...
The lyrics pose hypothetical questions questioning priorities and regrets.
what would you take what would you leave behind?
In a crisis situation, what would you deem to be most important or valuable?
If you woke up this morning here and I was gone...
In another hypothetical situation, the lyrics explore the fear of abandonment and the weight of unspoken sentiments.
what would you regret?
The artist wonders if they will be missed or if the other person will feel remorse at not having expressed their feelings.
What do you wish you’d said?
What words have gone unspoken and would be regretted in hindsight?
Would you drop some bomb?
Are there things left unsaid or actions left undone that would significantly impact the relationship?
Were you faking it all along?
The singer questions whether the disagreements and misunderstandings were always present, but covered up by insincere behavior.
Could you be satisfied with me?
Could the other person be content with who the artist is, flaws and all?
Could you be satisfied to be?
Would the other person be satisfied with merely existing or being in a relationship without striving for more?
Hey you who wanted to be free...
The singer addresses someone who claimed to desire freedom, but perhaps never fully realized what that concept entails.
we forgot to ask what freedom means.
The singer suggests that the other person may have had unrealistic expectations of what freedom entails and didn't properly communicate their needs and desires.
It’s a good day.
The notion of transformation and self-actualization is repeated.
Today is a good day, as good as the next day.
Every day presents opportunities for growth and change, and today is no different.
Today is a good day to die.
The final lyric reiterates the idea that transformation, even if it involves significant change or loss, is better than remaining stagnant in an unhealthy relationship.
Contributed by Isabella P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
krishna Priya
Aww my Black puppy is almost like this 🤩 every features and character wise also
Allyson L Page
Aww so sweet! I've got a black lab. He just turned 1 year old last month and this video reminds me of how he was when my hubby got him for me. He's just as sweet now as he was back then.
Ravi kumar
Thanks for this video it refreshes my pet golu childhood memory
ANGEL & ANA The Cuties
Pinky is so cute 😘❤️
Krishnapalesh Mandavilli
May god bless you pinky ❣️🥰
Daven Vasan
I miss my pet Rocky. That's alves 6 years only that is lost
MANYAM THARUN
Dog is so cute Akka 💞💞💞
Mani Singh
Soooooooooo cute 😘
Batmah Papa
So cuteewee 😘
Prk shorts
I love this lebrador dog mam ..... 👍👍