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.
The moon
Black Lab Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'd shake her from the sky.
Make her feel like I do.
Make her want to die.
Make her feel like a boy on a white hot stove.
You can't stay too close but you freeze if you don't.
Oh the moon sits high in her chair.
She knows but she don't really care.
She just shines.
Old lady Luna.
Mother of us all.
You would hold us close.
Catch us when we fall.
But you're so far away and the night's so cold.
So you stay where you are and watch us get older.
The moon sits high in her chair.
She knows but she don't really care.
She just shines.
Yeah, she just shines.
I didn't think to ask you.
Didn't think you wanted to know.
I know you're not sorry and I know where I want to go.
Oh the moon sits high in her chair.
She knows but she don't really care.
Ah, the moon sits high in her chair.
She knows but she don't really care.
She just shines.
Yeah, she just shines.
Yeah, she just shines.
The Black Lab's song "The Moon" is a melancholic and emotional track. The lyrics of the song talk about the singer's desire to control the moon, to shake it from the sky and make it feel the pain and hurt that he carries inside. The moon, in the song, is seen as a distant, uncaring entity. Despite being revered by all cultures and civilizations, it seems to be emotionally disconnected from the worries and troubles of humanity.
The metaphorical meaning of the song is open to interpretation, but it is a reflection of human desire to control their surroundings, even if they are out of reach. People often try to control everything that affects their lives, their relationships, their success or failure, but it is not always possible. The singer here wishes that he could change the past or control the future. However, he is aware of his powerlessness and the fact that the moon will always remain out of his grasp.
The song also talks about the moon in a maternal role, as a protector and a nurturer. The line "Mother of us all. You would hold us close. Catch us when we fall" is a testament to the traditional association of the moon with motherhood and fertility. However, the distance between the moon and the earth is emphasized, showing how futile it is for humans to rely on external forces for comfort.
Overall, the song portrays the human struggle with isolation, powerlessness, and the desire for control. The moon represents everything that is beyond our reach, both positive and negative.
Line by Line Meaning
If the moon was in my hands,
If I had the power to control the moon,
I'd shake her from the sky.
I would violently remove the moon from its position in the sky,
Make her feel like I do.
Make the moon experience the emotional pain that I am feeling,
Make her want to die.
Cause the moon to feel extreme emotional distress and despair,
Make her feel like a boy on a white hot stove.
Cause the moon to experience intense, unbearable pain,
You can't stay too close but you freeze if you don't.
If you get too close to the pain, you will experience its effects, but if you keep your distance, you will still suffer from the coldness of the situation.
Oh the moon sits high in her chair.
The moon is in a powerful, elevated position of authority.
She knows but she don't really care.
The moon is aware of what is happening, but is indifferent and unconcerned about it.
She just shines.
The moon continues to emit light and perform its natural function, regardless of anything else happening around it.
Old lady Luna.
An affectionate and familiar way of referring to the moon.
Mother of us all.
The moon is a powerful and nurturing force, influencing and protecting all living things on Earth.
You would hold us close.
The moon has the ability to provide comfort, protection, and a sense of closeness to those who are hurting.
Catch us when we fall.
The moon is capable of intervening and saving us from harm when we are in danger.
But you're so far away and the night's so cold.
Despite its potential to help, the moon is too remote and distant to provide immediate relief from our suffering.
So you stay where you are and watch us get older.
The moon remains in its distant position, passively observing the passage of time and the inevitable aging and mortality of all living things.
I didn't think to ask you.
I did not consider seeking the moon's assistance or comfort.
Didn't think you wanted to know.
Assuming that the moon would not be interested or able to provide help.
I know you're not sorry and I know where I want to go.
Accepting that the moon is not capable of feeling remorse for our pain or problems, and recognizing where we need to direct ourselves for a solution.
Yeah, she just shines.
Despite everything happening around it, the moon continues to perform its natural function and emit light, representing the continuity of life and the universe.
Contributed by Alexis H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@donallen2752
Wow thanks for posting this. Hard to find and I've always loved it.