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.
Say Goodbye
Black Lab Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I have to say goodbye goodbye
The lyrics to "Say Goodbye" by Black Lab are a powerful expression of inner turmoil and difficulty letting go of someone or something that has caused pain and struggle in one's life. The opening line, "How am I supposed to feel?" sets the tone for the rest of the song as the singer grapples with conflicting emotions in the face of difficult circumstances. The line, "you strike at my achilles heel with everything that's wrong I can't make right," suggests that the person or situation causing the singer's distress is tied to deep-seated issues or vulnerabilities they feel powerless to change.
The song's chorus, "if I can't say it - if I can't say goodbye. if I can't say it - if I can't say goodbye I know you never will," highlights the singer's struggle to find closure and move on from the pain they are experiencing. They recognize that their inability to say goodbye and let go is holding them back from moving forward and may prevent the other person from doing so as well.
The verses of the song continue to explore the singer's inner conflict, with lines like "I'm never gonna be that shining knight" and "I love you as I'm lying through my teeth" suggesting a sense of inadequacy or insincerity in their actions and feelings. The final line of the song, "I have to say goodbye" reflects a final, cathartic release for the singer as they come to terms with their need to let go and move on.
Line by Line Meaning
How am I supposed to feel?
I am struggling with my emotions and do not know how to process them.
you strike at my achilles heel with everything that's wrong I can't make right.
You are attacking my weaknesses and flaws, which I cannot fix or change.
if I wait another hundred years the whispers set against the tears I'm never gonna be that shining knight.
Even if I wait an endless amount of time, I will never become the hero or perfect person you want me to be.
I find it hard to be down in this hole now I find myself walking down a hard road.
It is difficult for me to stay in this negative situation and I feel like I am facing a challenging journey ahead.
if I can't say it - if I can't say goodbye.
If I am unable to express myself and end this relationship, I will feel trapped and stuck in a painful situation.
I know you never will.
I understand that you will not be the one to initiate goodbye even though it is necessary.
now I'm waiting for that setting sun to burn me down the day I'm done and spread my ashes out along the beach.
I am waiting for the end of this relationship to happen and for me to finally move on and let go of everything.
but I find these days are pretty long this war with you goes on and on and I love you as I'm lying through my teeth.
I feel like this conflict with you will never end and I continue to pretend that I still love you even though I do not.
I find it hard to be up on this wall now I find myself trying to make a hard call.
It is challenging for me to make a difficult decision and move forward with ending this relationship.
and twenty years of hell will rain down upon us like frogs upon the pharaohs.
If we do not end this soon, we will face even more intense and prolonged pain and suffering.
I have to say goodbye.
Ending this relationship is necessary for me to move on and find peace.
goodbye
The final farewell to this relationship and everything that came with it.
Contributed by Ava P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ashlyn The Dream Creator
Imma be real because of Pretty Little Liars I've got a love of different kinds of songs including this one.
Romulo Almeida
i love this song. thank you black lab for such a great work. greetings from Brazil
clecle9776
Danny Donahue & MSU did a very nice job on this video. You can never go wrong with a Black Lab song. =)
Lillie K
This is such a fantastic video, I never saw it going that way the first time I watched it. Still coming back to watch it again!
TheEclecticEtailer
Was just watching season 2 of PLL and heard this song. I recognized it as Black Lab so I had to look it up. This song being on my favorite show makes me like Black Lab even more than I already did.
Palak Jassal
omg im watching pll now and came here to hear this
Laura Yurgalite
finally people have learned to recognize good music....0 dislikes :)
ashley mccammon
Love this song
Stella Jones
I don`t even know where did I find this song 6 years ago,but it stayed with me while I jogging at night,look around,on one was there.
Clay Anderson
Awesome Song, startling ending!