Dan was born on the 11th of May 1992 in the market town of Shrewsbury in En… Read Full Bio ↴Dan was born on the 11th of May 1992 in the market town of Shrewsbury in England, Shropshire, UK.

As a young boy Dan grew up overlooking fields, making fires, building dens and enjoying life in the country.

Dan did not particularly enjoy school and took to the guitar at the age of 9. Through music, Dan found that he could express himself, and his affinity with the guitar started when introduced to the Blues by his teacher, Richard Pharo. Dan’s guitar skill and understanding of the Blues continued to develop through his school years, playing in various bands and as part of a duo supporting his older sister Claire on open mic nights around the county.

When Dan left school he undertook a joinery apprenticeship with the ambition of becoming a professional guitar maker. Unfortunately, this was cut short following a tragic accident in the workshop involving his eye. Although no cosmetic signs remain, he suffered severe damage to the retina resulting in continued deterioration of his sight. Dan now looks back at this as a pivotal moment. It was to alter the course of his life permanently.

After seeking solace in the Blues to deal with the aftermath of his accident, Dan decided he would pick himself up and embark upon a full-time music career. The support from his family, along with the encouragement of local musicians and manager Tony Skeggs, spurred Dan on to broaden his horizons and experiment with singing. To the astonishment of himself and others, a voice emerged which has resulted in the label 'Blues Boy Dan'.

Word in the local Blues community began to spread, and throughout 2011 Dan found himself gigging twice a week, leading to a video posting on Youtube of his performance of the “Ballad of Hollis Brown”. The video attracted the attention of Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac who tracked Dan down and has since become Dan’s mentor.

Dan will be travelling to Nashville in April this year, to record with Grammy award winning producer Vance Powell (Kings Of Leon, Jack White, Willie Nelson), he will also be performing at Glastonbury, and starts a world tour with ZZ Top as support act in June.

Discography

Ships - EP (2012)
The London Sessions (2012)
Blues Boy - EP (2013)
Little Red Rooster - Single (2014)
Pride and Joy - Single (2014)
Fall Like A Feather - Single (2015)
Bad For Me - EP (2015)
Witching Hour - Single (2016)
Made To Love You - Single (2016)

What Is a Man
Dan Owen Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

What is a man without a heart?
Just a story that never starts
Don't be afraid of going far
Imagine the sky without the stars
Don't ever fade into the dark
Coz what is a man without a heart

Don't say to me,

That you've already tried

No one,
What is a man?
No one,
What is a man without a heart?
No one,
What is a man?
No one,
What is a man without a heart?

Lonely world be nice to me
Give me strength so I can see
All the things that I can be
And this is my philosophy
Dreams are never out of reach
Making my own memories

What is a man without a heart?
What if that story never starts?
Don't be afraid of going far
Imagine the sky without the stars
Don't ever fade into the dark
Coz what is a man without a heart

No one,
What is a man?
No one,
What is a man without a heart?
No one,
What is a man?
No one,
What is a man without a heart?

When you gonna learn to live?
When you gonna be somebody?
You gotta keep on trying, you gotta keep on trying
There's some things you can't see
That you can learn from me
Do you need somebody, do you need somebody?

Don't say to me,
That you've already tried

No one,
What is a man?
No one,
What is a man without a heart?
No one,
What is a man?
No one,
What is a man without a heart?
No one,
What is a man?
No one,
What is a man without a heart?
No one,
What is a man?

No one,
What is a man without a heart?

Overall Meaning

The song "What is a Man" by Dan Owen is a powerful ballad exploring the importance of having compassion and empathy as a man. The lyrics suggest that a man without a heart is just an incomplete story that never gets started. The song encourages men to be courageous and not to shy away from taking risks and following their dreams. The phrase "Imagine the sky without the stars" is used as a metaphor for a man without a heart - just like the stars are what make the night sky beautiful, a man's heart is what makes him complete and valuable.

The lines "Lonely world be nice to me, Give me strength so I can see, All the things that I can be" are a plea for strength and guidance to help discover their full potential. The song emphasizes that everyone has the ability to accomplish their dreams and not to be discouraged by failure. The repetition of the chorus with the lines "No one, What is a man? No one, What is a man without a heart?" stresses the idea that without empathy and compassion, a man is nothing.

Overall, "What is a Man" is a moving statement on the importance of being emotionally present and vulnerable in our interactions with others. It encourages men to be strong and courageous, but also empathetic and compassionate.

Line by Line Meaning

What is a man without a heart?
A man without love is like a story that never even begins

Just a story that never starts
A man without a heart cannot connect to other people and can't be a part of a symbiotic relationship

Don't be afraid of going far
Fear can hinder you from reaching your full potential

Imagine the sky without the stars
A man without a heart is like a lifeless sky without those twinkling stars

Don't ever fade into the dark
Always strive to hold on to love and to never let it go to waste

Coz what is a man without a heart
A man without a heart is incomplete, empty and purposeless

Lonely world be nice to me
This world can be a lonely one but we hope that the world receives us with kindness and love

Give me strength so I can see
We need the strength to persevere through tough times so we can enjoy the positive things in life

All the things that I can be
Everyone has potential and should strive to reach it

And this is my philosophy
This is what I believe in and what guides me in life

Dreams are never out of reach
We should never give up on our dreams because they are always within our grasp

Making my own memories
We should strive to create our own special moments in life

When you gonna learn to live?
When will you open your heart to love and truly live?

When you gonna be somebody?
When will you strive to reach your potential in life and become the best version of yourself?

You gotta keep on trying, you gotta keep on trying
We must keep pushing ourselves to be the best we can be

There's some things you can't see
We aren't always aware of what is truly important and valuable in life

That you can learn from me
I have wisdom to offer and can impart meaningful knowledge and life lessons

Do you need somebody, do you need somebody?
Do you need someone to love and to share your life with?

No one, what is a man?
Without love, a man is incomplete

No one, what is a man without a heart?
A man without love is empty, incomplete and lacking in purpose

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JACK MICHAEL MCMANUS, DAN OWEN, Jack McManus

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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