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.
This Night
Black Lab Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I have done
There's a place
I have gone
There's a beast
And I let it run
Now it's running
My way
There are things
I regret
To can't forgive
You can't forget
There's a gift
That you sent
You sent it
My way
So take this night
Wrap it around me like a sheet
I know I'm not forgiven
But I need a place to sleep
So take this night
And lay me down on the street
I know I'm not forgiven
But I hope that I'll be given
Some peace
There's a game
That I play
There are rules
I had to break
There's mistakes
That I made
But I made them
My way
So take this night
Wrap it around me like a sheet
I know I'm not forgiven
But I need a place to sleep
So take this night
And lay me down on the street
I know I'm not forgiven
But I hope that I'll be given
Some peace
Some peace
Some peace
Black Lab's song "This Night" is an introspective look at the mistakes made in life and the desire for redemption. The lyrics speak of a person who has done things he regrets, and although he can't be forgiven, he hopes to find some peace. The beast running his way is a metaphor for the consequences of past actions that have now caught up with him. He acknowledges the mistakes he has made and the rules he has broken, but he did it his way. The gift that was sent his way is perhaps a sign of hope, a chance to make things right.
The chorus is a plea for comfort and understanding. The singer acknowledges that he is not forgiven, but he still needs a place to sleep. The imagery of wrapping the night around him like a sheet and laying him down on the street is a powerful representation of his vulnerability and desperation. He hopes that somehow, he will find some peace.
Overall, the lyrics are poignant and honest, speaking to the universal experience of making mistakes and hoping for redemption. The song's somber tone and powerful imagery resonate with listeners and make it a powerful ballad.
Line by Line Meaning
There are things
The singer has done certain things
I have done
The singer has personally committed certain acts
There's a place
The singer has been to a certain location
I have gone
The artist has personally been to that location
There's a beast
The artist has an inner monster
And I let it run
The singer has let this monster take control
Now it's running
The monster has taken control over the singer's actions
My way
The artist has allowed this to happen on their own terms
There are things
The artist has regrets
I regret
The artist feels remorse or guilt
To can't forgive
The singer is unable or unwilling to forgive themselves
You can't forget
Someone else is unable or unwilling to forget what the artist has done
There's a gift
Someone has given the singer something
That you sent
The gift was specifically sent by someone else
You sent it
The gift was intentionally given
My way
The artist has received this gift on their own terms
So take this night
The artist is requesting a certain action
Wrap it around me like a sheet
The singer wants to be physically enveloped or protected
I know I'm not forgiven
The singer is aware that they have not been forgiven
But I need a place to sleep
The artist requires a place to rest
And lay me down on the street
The artist possibly wants to be left alone in their suffering
But I hope that I'll be given
The artist has a desire to receive something
Some peace
The singer wants to be in a state of calm or tranquility
There's a game
The artist is engaging in a certain activity
That I play
The activity involves the singer actively participating
There are rules
There are specific guidelines to follow in this activity
I had to break
The singer intentionally broke these rules
There's mistakes
The artist has made errors or misjudgments
That I made
The errors were caused by the artist's actions or decisions
My way
All these actions and decisions were made on the singer's own terms
Some peace
The singer again wants to find a state of calm or tranquility
Some peace
The artist repeats this desire for peace
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PAUL DURHAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
KAZi ARTS
Let me help you guys!
There are things,
I have done.
There's a place,
I have gone.
There's a beast,
And I let it run.
Now it's runnin' my way.
There are things,
I regret.
That you can't forgive.
You can't forget.
There's a gift,
That you sent.
You sent it my way.
So, take this night.
Wrap it around me like a sheet.
I know I'm not forgiven,
But I need a place to sleep.
So, take this night.
Lay me down on the street.
I know I'm not forgiven,
But I hope that I'll be given
Some peace.
There's a game,
That I played.
There are rules,
I had to break.
There's mistakes,
That are made.
But I made 'em my way.
So, take this night.
Wrap it around me like a sheet.
I know I'm not forgiven,
But I need a place to sleep.
So, take this night.
Lay me down on the street.
I know I'm not forgiven,
But I hope that I'll be given
Some peace.
Some peace.
Some peace.
Faded Universe
Banshee cannot be topped, watched every episode when it premiered, and now I'm watching it a decade later. I still get chills every episode. this song suits it perfectly.
Lord Paddle
This was the song used in the intro of ep.16 season 7 from House M.D. Beautiful song !
Evi
Omg yes!! I just watched this episode and now I'm here 😭😭
KAZi ARTS
Let me help you guys!
There are things,
I have done.
There's a place,
I have gone.
There's a beast,
And I let it run.
Now it's runnin' my way.
There are things,
I regret.
That you can't forgive.
You can't forget.
There's a gift,
That you sent.
You sent it my way.
So, take this night.
Wrap it around me like a sheet.
I know I'm not forgiven,
But I need a place to sleep.
So, take this night.
Lay me down on the street.
I know I'm not forgiven,
But I hope that I'll be given
Some peace.
There's a game,
That I played.
There are rules,
I had to break.
There's mistakes,
That are made.
But I made 'em my way.
So, take this night.
Wrap it around me like a sheet.
I know I'm not forgiven,
But I need a place to sleep.
So, take this night.
Lay me down on the street.
I know I'm not forgiven,
But I hope that I'll be given
Some peace.
Some peace.
Some peace.
Moon Triskele Tribe
thanks man! :D
Vissen
This song was used in Banshee S02E10. Nice song, and great series!
aKrazyGuyUKno
The promo for "The Shield" back in 2006 that used this song gave me chills.
malkath
Lol
Ryan MacDonald
I fell in love with this band thanks to that promo💚
Molo
I imagine this song with a heavy guitar in the outro and why not a guitar solo...still a bliss to the ears as it is anyway...