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.
Slow Down
Black Lab Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you've watched me come undone
Even under cover of daylight
When I've buttoned up my tongue
I'm living in a world of stage fright
While you wait to see me undefended not pretending now
Like a castle made of sand
Put a wall between this sorrow
And the riches in my hands
It's about as far as i go
To let you see my heart again
It walks beside this frozen road
Slow down keep your eyes on me
Slow down cause you're almost free
And all i want yeah all i need to say
It's not so far away
It's not so far away
So high that you can't get over
And closer than your breath
So low that you can't get under
The moment of your death
I did not come here for saving
I'm just trying to accept
The way it is the way it is
Slow down keep your eyes on me
Slow down cause you're almost free
And all i want yeah all i need to say
You're not so far away
You're not so far away
?
The lyrics of Black Lab's song Slow Down explore the singer's vulnerability and the struggle to show their true self to others. The first verse talks about the different times and scenarios in which the singer has felt exposed and vulnerable, including both day and night. The reference to "living in a world of stage fright" suggests that the singer has always felt like they need to put on a show or facade for others to be accepted. However, they recognize that their true self is what others really want to see.
The second verse discusses the need for a wall or barrier between the singer's sorrow and their material success. They acknowledge that they have achieved success and riches, but it does not bring them happiness. Instead, they want to be seen for who they truly are and not just what they have. The chorus, "Slow down keep your eyes on me, Slow down cause you're almost free," is a plea to the listener to take the time to really see and understand the singer.
The bridge of the song invokes powerful imagery of life and death, which emphasizes how important it is to live in the present moment and embrace vulnerability. The singer asserts that they are not looking for someone to save them, but rather to accept themselves and be accepted by others for who they truly are. The repetition of "You're not so far away" in the final chorus shows that the singer is aware of the potential for connection and intimacy if the listener can slow down and truly see them.
Line by Line Meaning
Even at the bottom of midnight
When you've watched me come undone
Even in my darkest and most vulnerable moments, when you have seen me fall apart
Even under cover of daylight
When I've buttoned up my tongue
Even during the daytime when I'm putting on a front and hiding my true emotions
I'm living in a world of stage fright
While you wait to see me undefended not pretending now
I'm constantly anxious and scared of being judged, but you are someone who I can be myself around without fear of judgment
So put your arms around this hollow
Like a castle made of sand
Put a wall between this sorrow
And the riches in my hands
It's about as far as i go
To let you see my heart again
It walks beside this frozen road
Embrace my brokenness and vulnerability, shield me from my pain and what I possess materially isn't as important as who I am at my core
Slow down keep your eyes on me
Slow down cause you're almost free
And all i want yeah all i need to say
It's not so far away
It's not so far away
Spend time with me and pay attention to our connection, as I believe that we share a deep bond that can set you free from whatever is holding you back
So high that you can't get over
And closer than your breath
So low that you can't get under
The moment of your death
I did not come here for saving
I'm just trying to accept
The way it is the way it is
Our relationship is both transcendent and intimate, and accepting the inevitability of death is what we can do to make sense of our lives
You're not so far away
You're not so far away
You don't have to feel alone or distant, because we are connected in a meaningful way
Contributed by Daniel B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
kace c
Black Lab is really so so so underrated.
drgizmo1
love this. Black Lab does it again.
Siddharta Chidoshi
I'm glad that so many people like this song, I didn't expect that when I uploaded it! Keep on listening and sharing, this band has to gain popularity, they deserve it!
CrispyCari
Learned to know this band with "This night" - awesome song. Now I´m searching for more songs of this band. Very nice <3
Capucine444
Wooooow ! c'est tellement beau tout comme "this night" . J'ai découvert il y a peu mais j'adore
Lizzie Taylor
Love this song!!!!
These guys are amazing .
Priq
I wish Black Lab were more famous. I love you Paul.
James Fizerl
love black lab, especially their older stuff.
reza jahromi
I can't understand why they're not as popular as many other bands are... They're so unique.
sparkle1princess
It shouldn't be that hard to figure out by ear... The chord are pretty simple.