Lawrence Gowan is a Canadian musician, born in Glasgow, Scotland on Novembe… Read Full Bio ↴Lawrence Gowan is a Canadian musician, born in Glasgow, Scotland on November 22, 1956. Gowan was a solo artist for over fifteen years prior to becoming the keyboardist and vocalist for Styx. His musical style is often classified in the category of progressive rock, as well as singer-songwriter Pop.

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.

Come A Little Closer
Gowan Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Last night I stared into a mirror
That hangs on an open door
Into a face I have known
And barely recognize
I looked again and then I started to see
Where the problem was
I’ve been misguided
I fell for all the old lies

I don’t know why you stare at me
I’ve been here for all these years
I don’t pretend to give you any answer
Turning the question over to you
Waiting for your reply
Are you in line for taking any chances

Come a little closer
To the one you left behind
Come a little closer
Let me read your vital signs
Come a little closer
That’s all you need to do
Come a little closer
Put me back in touch with you

I’ve been rejected by a beautiful club of impressarios
They’re not connected to the people
That know their disguise
But they’re sitting well protected
By the rules of a game
I don’t understand

If you’re selected
You better try it for size

Overall Meaning

In Gowan's song Come A Little Closer, the singer reflects on his own life and how he has been misguided by old lies. He looks at himself in a mirror and barely recognizes the face he sees. He begins to realize that he has been living a life that has not been true to himself. He asks why people stare at him and admits that he does not have all the answers.

He then turns the question over to the listener, asking if they are willing to take any chances and come a little closer to the one they left behind. Gowan wants to read their vital signs and put himself back in touch with them. He feels that he has been rejected by a beautiful club of impresarios who are not connected to the people and are only protected by the rules of the game.

The overall message of the song is one of self-reflection and seeking a deeper connection with others. Gowan encourages the listener to take chances and come closer, to put down their guard and allow others to see who they truly are.

Line by Line Meaning

Last night I stared into a mirror
I looked at myself in the mirror

That hangs on an open door
The mirror was hanging on an open door

Into a face I have known
I saw my own face in the mirror

And barely recognize
But, somehow, I didn't recognize myself much

I looked again and then I started to see
I looked again and started to realize

Where the problem was
What the issue was

I’ve been misguided
I have been led astray

I fell for all the old lies
I believed all the old lies

I don’t know why you stare at me
I'm unsure why you're looking at me

I’ve been here for all these years
I've been here, in front of you, for years

I don’t pretend to give you any answer
I am not pretending to know the answer