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.
Tell Me Why
Black Lab Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You don't believe a word I say
I tell you that you're beautiful
Yeah, you just turn away
[Chorus:]
How does it feel to be like you?
How does it feel to break me like you do?
Are you out of your head
Because I'm out of my head
(Tell me why)
Tell me why some things are perfect
(Tell me why)
Tell me why some things are wonderful
(Tell me why)
Tell me why some things are out of reach
Tell me why, why, why
I want to know the things you think
I want to be the ghost in you
I want to sleep, I want to live inside your dream
Yeah, we could all come true
[Chorus]
Maybe I'm lost in my own world
Maybe I'm in love with the wrong girl
Maybe you need someone like you
Who hurts like you
The lyrics to Black Lab's song Tell Me Why describe a relationship where one person feels deeply in love and devoted to the other, while the other person remains distant and disconnected. Despite his declarations of love and admiration, the other person doesn't believe him or acknowledge his feelings. The chorus poses several questions about the nature of their relationship, asking why some things are perfect or wonderful, while others are out of reach. The singer expresses a desire to understand the other person better and to be closer to them, even if it means becoming the "ghost in you" or living inside their dream. The song ends with a sense of confusion and uncertainty, as the singer wonders if he's in love with the wrong person or if they need someone who understands their pain.
The lyrics to Tell Me Why are powerful and emotional, conveying the frustration and longing of unrequited love. They also contain many references to dreams and understanding, suggesting a yearning for connection and deeper meaning in life. Overall, the song is a cathartic exploration of the complexities and uncertainties of relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
I tell you that I love you
Expressing my love to you
You don't believe a word I say
You doubt my feelings and words
I tell you that you're beautiful
Complimenting your beauty
Yeah, you just turn away
You ignore my compliments
How does it feel to be like you?
A contemplative question about the other person's behavior
How does it feel to break me like you do?
Asking about the emotional pain they are causing me
How do you feel when I'm alone with you?
Curious about the other person's feelings when we are together
Are you out of your head
Suggesting the other person's behavior is crazy
Because I'm out of my head
Clarifying that my own behavior may be irrational
(Tell me why)
Asking for an explanation
Tell me why some things are perfect
Questioning the complexity of certain situations
(Tell me why)
Asking for an explanation
Tell me why some things are wonderful
Questioning the unpredictability of life
(Tell me why)
Asking for an explanation
Tell me why some things are out of reach
Questioning why some things are unattainable
Tell me why, why, why
Repeating the question for emphasis
I want to know the things you think
Expressing a desire to understand the other person's thoughts
I want to be the ghost in you
Describing a desire to be closely connected to the other person
I want to sleep, I want to live inside your dream
Expressing a desire to be a significant part of the other person's life
Yeah, we could all come true
Suggesting that the desire for the relationship could be achievable
(Chorus)
Repeating the questions from earlier
Maybe I'm lost in my own world
Reflecting upon my own circumstances
Maybe I'm in love with the wrong girl
Questioning the suitability of the relationship
Maybe you need someone like you
Suggesting that the other person needs someone who understands them
Who hurts like you
Specifically describing the emotional pain the other person is experiencing
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MARTI FREDERIKSEN, PAUL DURHAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
TheDealMaster
I saw Black Lab here in Eugene, Oregon years ago. I sat down and spoke with the lead singer for a good five minutes. He was extremely nice and appreciative.
Jake Moore
Black labs are my favorite.
Windrie Cox
dey r under rated n da song 2 so gr8