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.
Lust
Black Lab Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well do you think what your eyes don′t speak?
I know, tell me everything.
Let go of the last three weeks and come lay in the garden with me.
I'm saying your name I′m begging you please.
I believe in lust.
I believe it just might be enough.
I believe that everything we've done is already forgiven now.
I believe in what my hands can touch.
I believe you just might be too much.
I feel like a beginner now.
I'll see.
Don′t start, don′t start with me.
You wanna replay, replay breaking me down all goddamn day.
I know a boy you've never met.
I know a word he never says.
Your lips making me hard saying my name breaking my heart.
I believe in lust.
I believe it just might be enough.
I believe that everything we′ve done is already forgiven, yeah.
I believe in lust.
I believe in what my hands can touch.
I believe you just might be too much.
I feel like a beginner now.
The lyrics of "Lust" by Black Lab explore the theme of desire and temptation in a relationship that is both intoxicating and potentially destructive. The singer expresses their intense attraction to someone, comparing it to a ghost or shadow that lingers around them. They can feel the excitement building, with the other person's smile deceiving them, yet they long to know the truth that lies behind their eyes.
The singer pleads for honesty and openness, urging the other person to let go of the past and join them in a moment of vulnerability, symbolized by laying in the garden together. They are desperate for a connection, calling out the other person's name in a plea for them to understand their longing. The chorus speaks to the singer's belief in lust as a powerful force that could potentially be enough to sustain their relationship. They acknowledge that their actions may have caused harm in the past but express a belief in forgiveness.
The second verse delves deeper into the complexity of their desire. The singer mentions a mysterious boy and a word left unsaid, hinting at secrets and hidden desires. Despite the pain the other person has caused by playing mind games and breaking them down, the singer is still captivated by their lips and how they say their name. They believe in the overwhelming pull of lust, acknowledging that it may be too much for them to handle as a beginner in navigating these intense feelings.
Overall, "Lust" by Black Lab delves into the passionate and alluring nature of desire, while also acknowledging the potential pitfalls and challenges it presents in a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
I can feel it turning me on like a ghost, a shadow moving across your face your smile lying at me.
I am experiencing a sensation that arouses me, similar to the presence of a ghost, a fleeting shadow passing over your face, your smile deceiving me.
Well do you think what your eyes don't speak?
Do you believe the unspoken thoughts that your eyes convey?
I know, tell me everything.
I understand, please disclose all your thoughts to me.
Let go of the last three weeks and come lay in the garden with me.
Forget about the past three weeks and join me in resting in the garden.
I'm saying your name I'm begging you please.
I am desperately calling out your name, pleading with you.
I believe in lust.
I have faith in the intense desire.
I believe it just might be enough.
I believe that this passion alone could be sufficient.
I believe that everything we've done is already forgiven now.
I believe that all our past actions have been absolved.
I believe in lust.
I have faith in the intense desire.
I believe in what my hands can touch.
I have faith in the tangible experiences I can feel with my hands.
I believe you just might be too much.
I believe that you may be overwhelming.
I feel like a beginner now.
I feel like an amateur at this moment.
I'll see.
I will wait and see.
Don't start, don't start with me.
Please don't initiate any conflict or confrontation with me.
You wanna replay, replay breaking me down all goddamn day.
You desire to repeatedly weaken me and break me down throughout the entire day.
I know a boy you've never met.
I am acquainted with a boy whom you have never encountered.
I know a word he never says.
I am aware of a word that he never utters.
Your lips making me hard saying my name breaking my heart.
Your words, spoken with sensuality and uttering my name, are both arousing me and causing immense emotional pain.
I believe in lust.
I have faith in the intense desire.
I believe it just might be enough.
I believe that this passion alone could be sufficient.
I believe that everything we've done is already forgiven, yeah.
I believe that all our past actions have already been forgiven.
I believe in lust.
I have faith in the intense desire.
I believe in what my hands can touch.
I have faith in the tangible experiences I can feel with my hands.
I believe you just might be too much.
I believe that you may be overwhelming.
I feel like a beginner now.
I feel like an amateur at this moment.
Writer(s): Paul Durham
Contributed by Benjamin M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.