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.
Love To Love You
Black Lab Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The lyrics of “Love To Love You” by Black Lab explore the complex emotions of a person who is in love with someone who is already taken. The first verse acknowledges that the singer has feelings for this person but recognizes that pursuing those feelings would be wrong since they already have someone waiting for them who has done no harm to the singer. However, the singer can’t help but imagine what it would be like to be with this person, using the metaphor of a building on fire in their chest to describe the intensity of their desire.
The second verse continues with this theme of longing and regret, as the singer wishes they could love this person like the characters in their favorite movie or book. The line “it’s already done, the film’s in the can” suggests a feeling of finality and resignation, as if the singer knows that their love for this person will never be realized. The final lines of the song express a sense of loss and yearning for a time and place where they could be with this person, even as they know it can never be.
Overall, “Love To Love You” is a poignant and bittersweet exploration of unrequited love and the pain that comes with it. The lyrics are evocative and poetic, using vivid imagery and metaphors to convey the depth of the singer’s emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
I would love to love you but I know that it would be wrong.
Although I have strong feelings for you, I recognize that pursuing a romantic relationship would not be appropriate due to your current commitment to someone else.
You got someone waiting for you who's never done me no harm.
Your current partner has never caused me any harm or wronged me in any way.
I would love to touch you like a building on fire in my chest.
My desire to be close to you, both emotionally and physically, burns like a raging fire within me, consuming my thoughts and feelings.
So the only voice I turn to is the one I use to confess.
In order to deal with these intense emotions, I confide in and rely upon my own inner thoughts and feelings.
It's already done it's already done.
Despite my internal struggle, it seems that my fate has already been sealed and predetermined by my feelings for you.
I would hold my breath I would take those steps out of your living room and into the blue.
If given the chance, I would take a risk and leave the safety of your presence to embark on an unknown journey or path.
So I hold my head and I take what's left.
No matter what happens, I will remain strong and keep moving forward, accepting whatever consequences or outcomes may arise.
You know I lost everything the day I met you.
My life has been forever changed by your presence, and although I may have gained much, I feel as though I have also lost a great deal.
I would love to love you like the movie that plays in my mind.
In my imagination and fantasies, I envision a perfect, idealized love between us that may not be attainable in reality.
Like the boy in sons & lovers when he first sees the girl in white.
Similar to the intense and passionate love depicted in literature, such as the novel 'Sons and Lovers', I long for a similar experience with you.
It's already done the film's in the can.
Like a film that has already been shot and edited, my feelings for you have already taken root and cannot be undone or erased.
I would hold my breath I would take those steps out of your living room and into the street.
Despite the intense emotions and conflicts I feel, I would take a risk and leave the safety and comfort of your home to venture out into the unknown future.
You know I lost everything - the place in the world where we are free in a different year in a different town that isn't here that isn't now.
In my mind, there exists a perfect world and time where we could be together without any complications or negative consequences; however, this world does not exist in reality and I must confront that fact.
I can see your face I can read your mind in another place where you are mine. in another time.
In my fantasies and dreams, I can picture us together and imagine what it would be like to have a relationship with you in a different place and time, free from any constraints or obstacles.
Contributed by Mila K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.