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 Life
Black Lab Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The night will never come
If Jesus hasa father
Nothing is ever wrong
So why am I alone
In the middle of this crowd
Why am I so sorry
For things I thought aloud
And now the clock is running out
I know
Everybody wants a good life
I know
I'm so happy in the spotlight
(you know what I mean)
I know, I know, i know
So come on give me shelter
The old men used to sing
And if i had a dollar
For every fucking thing
Burried in my heart
Burried like a king
Shelter from my instincts
And freedom of release
Mumma said the worst would come
But then became worse off
I know
Everybody wants a good life
I know
I'm so happy in the spotlight
(you know what I mean)
I know,
I go looking for a good fight
I know,
Everybody needs a good night
(do you know what i mean)
(do you know what i mean)
(do you know what i mean)
So black on black,
Black on white
White on brown
White on Red
White on Black
Days on end
End of days
Salad days
Picture perfect days
So step inside
Of the steps
Down the hall
Through your door
In your bed
Where were you this morning
When the sheets were soaking wet
Mumma said the worst would come
And now the clock is running out
I know
Everybody wants a good life
I know
I'm so happy in the spotlight
(you know what I mean)
I know,
I go looking for a good fight
I know,
Everybody needs a good night
(do you know what i mean)
And I know
Everybody wants a good life
(do you know what i mean)
I know
Everybodys on their own time
(do you know what i mean)
I know,
Everybody everybody
The core message of Black Lab's song "Good Life" is about the search for happiness and fulfillment in life. The lyrics outline the struggle that the singer has to find a sense of purpose or belonging. He feels like he is alone in a crowd, misunderstood and judged for expressing his thoughts and feelings. The singer is searching for shelter and protection from his own instincts, as well as freedom to release his emotions. The song touches on themes of isolation, disillusionment, and existential questioning.
The chorus, "Everybody wants a good life," highlights the universal human desire for happiness and contentment. The singer acknowledges that he is happy to be in the spotlight, but he also needs to find deeper meaning in his life. He wants to engage in meaningful pursuits and, at times, even seeks out conflict to find a sense of purpose.
The final verse of the song provides a series of contrasting images that suggest the ever-changing nature of life. The singer describes experiences of joy (picture perfect days) and sorrow (the end of days), moments of connection (black on black) and disconnection (white on red), and passing time (days on end). He ends the song with a sense of urgency, as he realizes that time is running out and he still hasn't found the "good life" he's searching for.
Line by Line Meaning
I stay awake forever,
I can't sleep and the night seems to go on forever.
The night will never come
Time seems to be standing still and the night will never end.
If Jesus hasa father
If there is a higher power watching over us.
Nothing is ever wrong
Everything is perfect and nothing can go wrong.
So why am I alone
Despite being surrounded by people, I still feel lonely and isolated.
In the middle of this crowd
Surrounded by many people, yet still feeling alone.
Why am I so sorry
Why do I feel sorry for expressing my thoughts and feelings?
For things I thought aloud
For speaking my mind and expressing my innermost thoughts.
Mumma said the worst would come
Mother warned of difficult times ahead.
And now the clock is running out
Time is running out and the situation is becoming more urgent.
Everybody wants a good life
Everyone desires a happy and fulfilling life.
I'm so happy in the spotlight
I find happiness and fulfillment in the attention and admiration of others.
So come on give me shelter
Seeking comfort and protection from the difficulties of life.
The old men used to sing
Remembering the wisdom and advice of previous generations.
And if i had a dollar
Expressing frustration with the many small expenses of everyday life.
For every fucking thing
For every little thing I need or want.
Burried in my heart
Feelings and emotions deeply held and hidden within myself.
Burried like a king
Hidden away as something valuable or precious.
Shelter from my instincts
Finding protection from my own inner desires and impulses.
And freedom of release
The ability to let go and express myself freely.
But then became worse off
Things didn't get better, they only became more difficult.
I go looking for a good fight
I seek out conflict and challenge in order to feel alive and engaged.
Everybody needs a good night
Everyone needs rest and rejuvenation in order to function at their best.
So black on black,
A reference to the color of clothing and appearance.
Black on white
A reference to the racial divide and issues of discrimination.
White on brown
More issues of race and discrimination.
White on Red
Possibly a reference to blood and violence.
White on Black
Further issues of racism and discrimination.
Days on end
Days that seem to stretch on forever and blend together.
End of days
The end of the world or end of life as we know it.
Salad days
Youthful days of inexperience and innocence.
Picture perfect days
Days that seem idyllic and perfect like a picture postcard.
So step inside
Invitation to come inside or join in.
Of the steps
Referencing stairs or progression forward.
Down the hall
Directional movement within a building or space.
Through your door
Entering a private space or sanctuary.
In your bed
Returning to a place of rest and comfort.
Where were you this morning
Questioning the whereabouts of someone in relation to a specific time.
When the sheets were soaking wet
Possibly a reference to sexual activity or intense emotion.
Everybody everybody
The universality of human experience.
Everybodys on their own time
Each person must follow their own path and timeline in life.
Contributed by Hannah T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.