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.
Sleeps With Angels
Black Lab Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She sleeps with angels, she got angels in her hair.
They call her Gabrielle, from the way that she sings
Oh lover come, you ought to get you some wings.
She sleeps with angels up in the sky
Sleeping with angels you can't help but get high.
When you bag gets heavy baby, lay down your load
You can ask for more, or ask for less
Or you can just sleep forever in that big feather bed.
With the angels in their long white robes
Sleeping with Jesus Lord, sleeping with jove.
Sleep with the angels, mama never look back
Sleep with the angels while the sky turn to black.
You can sleep under ladders, on the tracks of a train
But sleeping in the clouds won't keep you out of the rain.
The song "Sleeps With Angels" by Black Lab is a contemplative reflection on death and the afterlife. The opening line "She sleeps with angels way up high in the air" sets the tone for the entire song; the subject is not merely dead but sleeping with angels, suggesting a peaceful and divine repose. The description of the angels being in her hair further emphasizes the idea that she is surrounded by them in her sleep, a comforting image for many who may fear death. The mention of her name as "Gabrielle" adds to the biblical reference to an angel and lends an ethereal quality to the subject.
The second stanza continues with the theme of being high with the angels, describing a kind of euphoria that is inextricably linked with death. The reference to the "bag" being heavy suggests she may have been carrying a heavy burden in life that has now been lifted. The line "get on your hands and knees and do like you been told" may imply that the subject has reached a final, humble acceptance of her fate.
The third and final stanza ends the song on a melancholy note, emphasizing the finality of death. The line "sleeping with Jesus Lord, sleeping with jove" touches on the idea of heaven and the gods. The lyrics suggest a peace in death that is unlike anything experienced in life. Even though death is described in the song as an enviable rest, the final line reveals a harsh truth: "sleeping in the clouds won't keep you out of the rain." Death may bring peace, but it can't protect you from life's harsh realities forever.
Line by Line Meaning
She sleeps with angels way up high in the air
She is in eternal peace and harmony with the deceased loved ones in heaven.
She sleeps with angels, she got angels in her hair.
She is so spiritually connected to angels that they are literally embodied in her hair.
They call her Gabrielle, from the way that she sings
Her singing is so melodious and pure that she is called Gabrielle after the angel of divine worship.
Oh lover come, you ought to get you some wings.
Her lover should seek spiritual enlightenment and liberation to be with her in heaven.
She sleeps with angels up in the sky
She sleeps in the abode of angels in heaven.
Sleeping with angels you can't help but get high.
The feeling of being in the presence of angels is intoxicating and blissful.
When you bag gets heavy baby, lay down your load
When you are burdened with worldly troubles, surrender them to the divine and attain inner peace.
Get on your hands and knees and do like you been told.
Adopt a humble and submissive attitude towards God's will to achieve spiritual fulfillment.
You can ask for more, or ask for less
You can pray for a fortune or be content with your lot, but only inner peace will bring true happiness.
Or you can just sleep forever in that big feather bed.
You can choose to ignore spirituality and seek material comfort, but it won't provide solace when you die.
With the angels in their long white robes
The angels in heaven are dressed immaculately in white robes, symbolizing their purity and sanctity.
Sleeping with Jesus Lord, sleeping with jove.
Sleeping in peace with Jesus and Jove, the Roman god of salvation, represents spiritual enlightenment and redemption.
Sleep with the angels, mama never look back
Sleep with peace and let go of worldly affairs provided and nurtured by your mother.
Sleep with the angels while the sky turn to black.
Even when all is lost or seemingly hopeless, one can still find peace and spiritual solace.
You can sleep under ladders, on the tracks of a train
You can find comfort in the face of danger, but not in the face spiritual emptiness.
But sleeping in the clouds won't keep you out of the rain.
Temporal and fleeting comforts cannot save you from the inevitability of death and spiritual emptiness.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PAUL DURHAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind