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.
Living Too Fast
Black Lab Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Every action... catching me from behind
Every firefight... bullets inside my... I can't turn my head around sideways cover my back don't let me down
You swear, you say... I'm living too fast
I know you say
You swear, you say... I'm living too fast
I know you say
Black summer... windows shot out below
Black winter... fire in the hole
I'm running... nowhere left to go
I can't turn my head around sideways cover my back don't break me down
I know you say... I'm living too fast
You swear, you say... I'm living too fast
I know you say
(you swear, you say... I'm living too fast)
(I know you say)
Nine eight seven six five four three two one gotta burn gotta burn the sun (x 4)
The song "Living Too Fast" by Black Lab is a melancholic track that speaks about the chaos and turmoil in the life of the singer. He describes how every little detail haunts him, every action catches up with him from behind, and every firefight rages inside his head. He is unable to turn his head around, constantly fearing for his back's safety, seeking someone to cover him and not let him down. The lyrics are an embodiment of the singer's inner turmoil and the struggles he faces in life. The chorus, "I know you say I'm living too fast," is his guilt-ridden admittance that he knows he is moving too quickly, taking too many risks, and living on the edge, but he just can't help it.
As the verses progress, the intensity of the song rises. The description of the black summer and black winter provides a dark, ominous tone, followed by the singer's admission that he is running, but there is nowhere left to go. He acknowledges that he is moving too quickly, but he urges himself forward heedless of the danger, and the last line, "Gotta burn, gotta burn the sun," leaves the listener with a sense of restlessness, as though the singer is determined to keep living too fast, no matter what the cost.
Line by Line Meaning
Every detail... spoken inside my mind
I am constantly analyzing every detail and overthinking things in my mind.
Every action... catching me from behind
My past actions are always catching up to me and affecting me in the present.
Every firefight... bullets inside my... I can't turn my head around sideways cover my back don't let me down
I am constantly in danger and need someone to cover my back and watch out for me.
You swear, you say... I'm living too fast
People warn me that I am living my life too recklessly and I need to slow down.
I know you say
I am aware of the concerns and warnings of others about my lifestyle.
Black summer... windows shot out below
I have experienced violent and destructive situations in the past.
Black winter... fire in the hole
I have gone through tough times and faced difficult challenges.
I'm running... nowhere left to go
I am desperately trying to escape my problems but have nowhere to turn.
I can't turn my head around sideways cover my back don't break me down
I am vulnerable and need someone to protect me from behind and not let me fall.
Nine eight seven six five four three two one gotta burn gotta burn the sun (x 4)
I have to live my life to the fullest and push myself to the limit, even if it means risking everything.
Contributed by Kylie L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.