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.
I Believe It
Black Lab Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The lyrics to Black Lab's song "I Believe It" depict the singer's journey through a winter landscape, where they hear a voice they believed they lost. The imagery used in the first verse paints a picture of snow accumulation and trees burning with frost, setting a melancholic and introspective tone. The second verse describes a more intimate encounter, where the singer is face to face with someone before they disappear, leaving only a memory of their presence behind. The chorus comes in as a plea for reassurance and validation of what the singer believes to be true. They want to know if what they're seeing and feeling is real or just an illusion, but ultimately believe that they belong to the night.
The song's themes revolve around doubt, uncertainty, and the need for connection. The winter landscape and disappearance of the other person in the second verse add a sense of isolation and desperation for answers. The repetition of "I believe it" and "you need to show me" reflect the singer's struggle between what they feel and what they see. The chorus, with its declarative statement about belonging to the night, gives the song a sense of resolution, even if the singer's questions remain unanswered.
Line by Line Meaning
It snows a day, a night, a week
Snow falls for extended periods of time, hindering movement.
I walk, I wade, go down waist deep
I struggle through the snow, trudging with great difficulty.
This grove, these trees burn with frost
The trees and scenery are cold and frosty.
And I hear a voice I thought I'd lost
I hear a familiar voice I believed I'd never hear again.
I believe it but I need to know
I trust what I'm hearing, but require confirmation.
Yeah I believe it but you need to show me
I want to believe, but I also need physical evidence.
If you mean it I'll never go
If your intentions are genuine, I'll stay by your side.
Each step, your breath against my ear
I can feel your breath next to my ear with each step we take.
You're face to face then disappear
You appear before me, but then suddenly vanish.
You're there, your hair is in my eyes
I see you clearly, your hair obstructing my vision.
I trip, I fall but you catch my stride
I stumble, but you help me regain my footing.
And I believe it but I need to know
I still trust and believe in you, but I need reassurance.
Yeah I believe it. you need to show me what I'm seeing will never go
I'm willing to trust you, but only if you prove that what I'm seeing is real and everlasting.
Tell me if what I'm seeing isn't you
Inform me if your true self differs from what I'm perceiving.
I still believe we belong to the night
I have faith that we are meant to be together under the cover of darkness.
Contributed by Julia N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.