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.
Sugar
Black Lab Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
give us sugar, give us sugar.
I know heaven's a long ways away.
give us sugar, give us sugar.
super girl in a sticky dress hanging out of a little leather vest.
you dream at night of her beautiful lips.
you want to die in the swing of her hips.
walk straight straight head high look her straight on when you tell her those sweet lies.
give us sugar, give us sugar.
I know heaven's a long ways away.
give us sugar, give us sugar.
if I set myself on fire for you walk on the water like jesus used to do would you forgive me and forget where I've been?
yeah would you let me back into your skin?
walk straight straight head high look her straight on when you tell her those sweet lies.
I know heaven's a long ways away.
give us sugar, give us sugar.
I know heaven's a long ways away.
give us sugar, give us sugar.
and the lord won't wait too long and I'm almost home.
and the lord won't wait too long and I'm almost coming home.
give us sugar.
amen.
I know heaven's a long ways away.
give us sugar, give us sugar.
I know heaven's a long ways away.
give us sugar, give us sugar.
The lyrics to Black Lab's "Sugar" seem to be about temptation and the desire for something that may not necessarily be good for us. The singer acknowledges that heaven is far away, meaning that they are aware of the potential consequences of their actions. However, they still ask for "sugar," which could be interpreted as asking for something sweet and tempting, like a forbidden desire. The next lines describe a "super girl" in a provocative outfit, and the singer's desire for her. They want to "die in the swing of her hips" and are willing to tell "sweet lies" to achieve their desires.
The second half of the song takes a somber turn, as the singer suggests that they are willing to go to extreme lengths to be forgiven for their actions. They ask if setting themselves on fire or walking on water would make amends in the eyes of their love interest. The repetition of "give us sugar" conveys a sense of desperation and need for this temptation. The mention of "the lord" suggests that the temptation and desire may have a sinful connotation.
Overall, "Sugar" seems to be about the desire for something that one knows may not be good for them, but is overwhelming nonetheless. The lyrics suggest a sense of desperation and longing for this temptation, even if it means risking one's own well-being or morality.
Line by Line Meaning
I know heaven's a long ways away.
Acknowledgment that an ideal state or afterlife is distant or unattainable in the present.
give us sugar, give us sugar.
Desire or plea for pleasure, excitement, or indulgence.
super girl in a sticky dress hanging out of a little leather vest.
Description of a sexually attractive woman wearing revealing clothing.
you dream at night of her beautiful lips.
Frequent thoughts or fantasies of intimacy or physical pleasure with the described woman.
you want to die in the swing of her hips.
Intense desire to experience physical pleasure or ecstasy with the described woman.
walk straight straight head high look her straight on when you tell her those sweet lies.
Advice or instruction on successfully manipulating or deceiving the described woman with flattery or falsehoods.
if I set myself on fire for you walk on the water like jesus used to do would you forgive me and forget where I've been?
Questioning the level of affection or forgiveness the described woman would offer in exchange for extreme devotion or sacrifice.
yeah would you let me back into your skin?
Request for physical intimacy or closeness.
and the lord won't wait too long and I'm almost home.
Reference to religious beliefs and impending demise or return to a higher power.
give us sugar.
Repeat of desire or plea for pleasure, excitement, or indulgence.
amen.
Closing of religious or solemn statement.
Contributed by Allison K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ali S.
Deserves far more views and likes. Really well put.
Papite
this song is dope !