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.
Dancing On My Own Ground
Gowan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I more or less
Have played your last request
I took a trip
Aboard your ship
Well, now we're back, I guess
When I let you tempt me
Or just running low?
Don't know
One too many pieces missing
Had to learn how not to listen
Now I know
I've finally come around
Dancing on my own ground again
All that I'd lost I found
Dancing on my own ground again
And I'm all right
On my return
The bridge was burned
But some self-respect I'd earned
And no more betrayed
No judges paid
Another page has turned
Many stars have fallen
'Cause they thought they heard the calling
From a better place
Yeah, yeah
Tumbling ever after
To the echoed hollow laughter
But they're lost in space
I've finally come around
Dancing on my own ground again
All that I'd lost I found
Dancing on my own ground again
And I'm all right
When I let you tempt me
Did I think my tank was empty
Or just running low?
Oh
Were one too many pieces missing
Had to learn how not to listen
Now I know
Dancing on my own ground again
Love me or shoot me down
I'm dancing on my own ground again
And I'm all right, yeah, yeah
Dancing on my own ground again
Love me or shoot me down
Dancing on my own ground again
And I'm all right
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Dancing on my own ground again
And I'm all right
The song "Dancing On My Own Ground" by Gowan appears to be a reflection of a past relationship. The singer admits to playing their loved one's "last request" before taking a trip on their ship. The singer does not appear to have enjoyed this trip because they are now back, unsure of what to do. The singer questions themselves on whether they thought their "tank was empty" or just "running low" when they allowed themselves to be tempted. They also acknowledge that they had to learn "how not to listen" and had to find the pieces that were missing on their own.
However, the singer makes it clear that they have moved on from this past relationship. They have "finally come around" and are "dancing on my own ground again." They have found what they had lost and have gained "some self-respect" in the process. The singer no longer feels betrayed nor has to pay "judges" for themselves. They have learned from their past mistakes and have turned another page.
The song has an overall message of self-discovery, growth, and rebirth. It represents a person who has gone through a difficult time but has come out stronger and better for it. They are now standing on their own two feet and dancing to their own tune, regardless of whether or not someone else is there to love them or shoot them down.
Line by Line Meaning
I must confess
I need to admit something
I more or less
I did it to some degree but not entirely
Have played your last request
I fulfilled your final demand
I took a trip
I embarked on a journey
Aboard your ship
Under your guidance
Well, now we're back, I guess
Now we have returned, I suppose
When I let you tempt me
When I allowed you to entice me
Did I think my tank was empty
Did I believe I had nothing left in me
Or just running low?
Or was it just a little left but not much
Don't know
I'm not sure
One too many pieces missing
One too many parts of me were gone
Had to learn how not to listen
I had to learn to ignore certain things
Now I know
But now I understand
I've finally come around
I've finally made a change
Dancing on my own ground again
I'm moving in my own direction again
All that I'd lost I found
I recovered everything I had lost
And I'm all right
And I'm doing just fine
On my return
When I came back
The bridge was burned
The connection was severed permanently
But some self-respect I'd earned
But I had gained some dignity
And no more betrayed
And I'm not being deceived anymore
No judges paid
I'm not bribing anyone
Another page has turned
I have moved on to new things
Many stars have fallen
Many successful people have failed
'Cause they thought they heard the calling
Because they believed they heard their true purpose
From a better place
From somewhere that's superior
Tumbling ever after
Falling continuously
To the echoed hollow laughter
To the sound of mocking laughter
But they're lost in space
But they're in their own world and not in reality
Love me or shoot me down
Accept me or reject me, it's your choice
Contributed by Josiah H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@twentyeightmcd
Thanks Larry for this song. So applicable to today's world. Many blessings to you! To all watching this video/song, may mother/father God's light shine brightly in your life.
@MrKongatthegates
Have not heard this in 30 years. A buddy had the cassettes as kids, im 41 now and Gowan is still cool shit man :) nice
@jeffreybarkin3177
Such a GIFTED Songwriter and Performer and it's GREAT that he's touring his Solo Show again!
Although he's SPECTACULAR with STYX!!!
@cognitivephonetician
It's funny; I heard this song on the radio in Calgary the other day and thought that it sounded like it might have come from the early '90s. Now that I've listened to it more, it makes me feel nostalgic for those days from thirty years ago, even though I never heard it before 2022.
@kimbowser2350
Canada has put out some awesome musicians.
@garthbabcock5371
I listen to this song at least 5 times a week. Totally a feel good song and i am envious of the band mates having so much fun and are so talented.
@heidikachel9907
One of my favourite Gowan songs!
@MsNS1984
Heard this for the first-time in Chatham ont live show 11/25!! Amazing! Was dancing on my broken foot for the whole song and most of the show!!!🥰
@sarahstone1715
Awesome . Lawrence Gowan’s songs are great soundtracks for life. Phenomenal talent.
@misterninetyseven2898
Next time you see Gowan spinning around with his keyboard, remember: he's just dancing on his own ground. The stage is his ground.