His career:
At the age of nineteen, he earned an ARCT in classical piano performance from the Royal Conservatory of Music, in Toronto. Upon graduation, he enjoyed modest local success with the band Rhinegold in 1976.
After Rhinegold broke up in 1981, Lawrence Gowan began a successful solo career under his surname, "Gowan", releasing his self titled debut on Columbia Records in 1982. This album Gowan contained his first singles "Victory" and "Keep Up The Fight". His 1985 album Strange Animal was his first real Canadian commercial breakthrough, spawning the hit singles "A Criminal Mind", "(You're A) Strange Animal" and "Cosmetics". The album was produced by David Tickle (Prince, Split Enz, Sting, U2 ) and featured Tony Levin (King Crimson, Peter Gabriel) on bass / Chapman stick, and Jerry Marotta (Peter Gabriel) on drums. His 1987 follow up Great Dirty World was also produced by Tickle and again featured Tony Levin on bass but had session percussionist Nigel Olsson (Elton John) on drums. This album's arrangements were assisted by Bob Ezrin (Alice Cooper, Pink Floyd, Peter Gabriel) and gave him another breaking hit single, "Moonlight Desires," which featured Jon Anderson (Yes) on backing vocals.
1990's Lost Brotherhood featured Rush's Alex Lifeson on guitar', however, it was a commercial disappointment, and Gowan elected to pursue a change in his musical direction. Taking a more subdued, acoustic approach, he released an adult contemporary album ...but you can call me Larry in 1993, using his full name for the first time, and Lawrence Gowan returned to the Canadian charts with three strong singles: "When There's Time For Love", "Soul's Road", and "Dancing On My Own Ground". Gowan subsequently released critically acclaimed The Good Catches Up in 1995, which was produced by Eddie Schwartz (The Doobie Brothers, Paul Carrack), but the album did not generate singles or radio airplay. In 1997, Gowan released two live CDs: Sololive - No Kilt Tonight containing a strong rendition of Ragtime's classic "King Chanteclerc Rag", and Au Québec with an evocative cover of Harmonium's "Pour Un Instant", as well as his first French song, "Stéphanie", which was dedicated to his supportive Quebec fan base.
In 1997, Gowan released "Healing Waters" as a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales after her death. However, despite what many believe, this song was not originally written for this purpose. It was, in fact, used in its original form in the 1995 soundtrack for the movie 'When The Bullet Hits The Bone' (starring Jeff Wincott), which was two years prior to the infamous accident that killed Diana. Although this song is not actually listed in the movie's credits, it plays a significant role within the film. After the Princess' death, the lyrics were modified by Gowan into the version that fans have come to know.
Gowan's classic "A Criminal Mind" was covered in 2005 by Canadian hip-hop artist Maestro; and Gowan appears in the song's video with his vocals sampled on the recording.
In February 2006, Lawrence Gowan did four orchestra accompanied concerts in London, Ontario and Kitchener, Ontario. On March 23rd, 2010, The Return of the Strange Animal was released by Linus Entertainment featuring remastered versions of the original recordings packaged alongside a documentary on the making of his breakthrough CD at Tittenhurst Park with Peter Gabriel's band mates. The disc features some of the original demo recordings, two new songs, and full resolution videos, including an animated cartoon entitled "The Checkmate: Ominous Spiritus 2010". The disc closes with a Live recording of "Criminal Mind" featuring his current band, Styx.
Gowan has guest-starred on the Canadian animated comedy series Chilly Beach, and he has also displayed a passionate love for ice hockey by playing for The Rock & Roll All-Stars, a celebrity team that participates in charity events across Canada.
Awake The Giant
Gowan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Under heavy sedation
Fought to be realistic
Everyone pessimistic
Filled with anger and regret
That's how I was 'til I met you
Trapped beneath indignation
Bit the hand of the feeder
Never trusted the leader
Locked and held in a cold sweat
That's how I was 'til I met you
But you awake the giant
You awake the giant
But you awake the giant
The giant in me, yeah
Tossed and turned is the dreamer
Hard to find the redeemer
Bought and sold by my old friends
Cast adrift to a dead end
Stamped and marked as a bad debt
That's how I was 'til I met you
But you awake the giant
You awake the giant
But you awake the giant
The giant in me, yeah
And in that dying haze
Where the giant lay inside me
Waiting to rise
You found a willing heart
And you made it start to break free
And you moved me
But you awake the giant
Elevate my fate
You awake the giant
Mama don't you make the great
But you awake the giant
Come and pull this weight in me
But you awake the giant
Elevate my fate
You awake the giant
Mama come and make the great
But you awake the giant
You know you pull this weight in me, yeah
But you awake the giant
You awake the giant
But you awake the giant
Know how to pull this weight in me, yeah
The lyrics of Gowan's song "Awake The Giant" suggest that the singer's life was filled with anger, frustration, and regret until he met someone who could awaken the giant within him. He had been trapped beneath his own indignation, thirsting for retaliation against those who had wronged him. He was skeptical of leaders and had been bought and sold by his old friends, cast adrift to a dead end. However, upon meeting this person, everything changed.
The tone of the song is one of empowerment and transformation. The singer speaks of being held in a cold sweat and feeling like a bad debt until he met this person who could awaken the giant within him. The giant represents his true potential that had been lying dormant until this person encouraged him to break free and rise to his full potential. The lyrics are a testament to the power of a positive influence and the ability of someone to change another person's life for the better.
Line by Line Meaning
Born of pride and frustration
I was created by a mix of self-respect and disappointment.
Under heavy sedation
I was constantly numbing myself to the world around me.
Fought to be realistic
I tried to be practical and sensible.
Everyone pessimistic
All around me, people saw the worst in everything.
Filled with anger and regret
I carried a lot of resentment and remorse.
That's how I was 'til I met you
Until you came along, that's how I lived my life.
Trapped beneath indignation
I felt stuck under the weight of my wounded pride.
Thirst for retaliation
I wanted revenge against those who had hurt me.
Bit the hand of the feeder
I refused to accept help from those who wanted to support me.
Never trusted the leader
I never put faith in those who claimed to guide me.
Locked and held in a cold sweat
I was paralyzed by my fears and anxieties.
But you awake the giant
You brought my true potential to life.
The giant in me, yeah
The best part of me, the part I had been suppressing.
Tossed and turned is the dreamer
I was restless and uncertain in my aspirations.
Hard to find the redeemer
I struggled to find someone who could save me.
Bought and sold by my old friends
My closest companions betrayed me for their own gains.
Cast adrift to a dead end
I was left alone with nowhere to turn.
Stamped and marked as a bad debt
People saw me as worthless and hopeless.
But you awake the giant
You gave me the power and the courage to succeed.
And in that dying haze
When I was on the brink of giving up.
Where the giant lay inside me
When my true potential was dormant within me.
Waiting to rise
Ready to burst forth at any moment.
You found a willing heart
You recognized my desire to be better.
And you made it start to break free
You helped me break free of my inhibitions and doubts.
And you moved me
You inspired me to take action and pursue my goals.
Elevate my fate
Help me achieve my destiny.
Mama don't you make the great
Mother, don't give up on me.
Come and pull this weight in me
Help me bear the burden of my struggles.
Know how to pull this weight in me, yeah
You understand exactly how to encourage me and support me.
Lyrics © Anthem Entertainment
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@michaelmccartney8506
Cheers m8 4 the upload. Gowan is fucking awesome