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.
Guerrilla Soldier
Gowan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
U.S. Marine down from his home up in Maine
Big Red Machine rolls in patrolling the jungle
All of them baking under tropical rain
Six long months in a foreign wasteland
Scenes of terror so fresh and ripe
Found a place to come face to face
Like the gutter-snipes
There ain't no end in sight
(chorus)
For another thousand days
Will it all be over
And another thousand nights
Will the job get done
For another thousand days
Will it all make history
And another thousand nights
Will the war be won
Guerilla Soldier gives a smile for the camera
U.S. Marine says hi to mom on the news
Big Red Machine shows how to move in a straight line
Would be a shame to see
Should one of them lose
Eighteen months in a foreign wasteland
Scenes of terror still fresh and ripe
Found a place to come face to face
Like the gutter-snipes
Whether you like it or not
There ain't no end in sight
Repeat chorus
The lyrics of Gowan's "Guerrilla Soldier" appear to be a commentary on the Vietnam War. The song tells the story of two soldiers, a guerrilla soldier and a U.S. Marine, fighting in a foreign wasteland. The guerrilla soldier is described as being born in Santo Domingo, while the U.S. Marine is from Maine. The "Big Red Machine" is also mentioned, presumably referring to the U.S. military. The soldiers are said to be baking under tropical rain, facing scenes of terror that are still fresh and ripe even after months of fighting. The chorus asks whether the war will ever be over, whether the job will ever be done, whether it will all make history, and whether the war will ever be won.
The verse that speaks of the soldiers coming face to face "like the gutter-snipes" is particularly poignant. This phrase is likely meant to emphasize the senselessness of the conflict, as it suggests that the soldiers are fighting over something trivial or meaningless.
Overall, "Guerrilla Soldier" is a meditation on the seemingly endless cycle of war, the toll it takes on those who fight it, and the question of whether it will ever truly come to an end.
Line by Line Meaning
Guerrilla Soldier born in Santo Domingo
The song starts with the introduction of a Guerrilla Soldier who was born in Santo Domingo.
U.S. Marine down from his home up in Maine
A U.S. Marine, who originally lives in Maine, is sent to a foreign country.
Big Red Machine rolls in patrolling the jungle
The Big Red Machine arrives to patrol the jungle.
All of them baking under tropical rain
All of them, including the Guerrilla Soldier and the U.S. Marine, are enduring the hot and rainy weather.
Six long months in a foreign wasteland
They have already been in the foreign country for half a year.
Scenes of terror so fresh and ripe
They have been exposed to terrifying situations that are still vivid in their memory.
Found a place to come face to face like the gutter-snipes
They eventually find themselves in confrontations similar to street fights.
Whether you like it or not, there ain't no end in sight
The war seems to go on forever, whether anyone wants it to or not.
For another thousand days, will it all be over
The chorus poses a question about whether the war will end after another thousand days.
And another thousand nights, will the job get done
The song wonders whether the objective will be achieved after a thousand more nights.
For another thousand days, will it all make history
The chorus again poses another question about whether the events that unfold will be recorded in history books after another thousand days.
And another thousand nights, will the war be won
The song wonders whether the war will finally be won after a thousand more nights.
Guerrilla Soldier gives a smile for the camera
The Guerrilla Soldier is shown smiling for the camera.
U.S. Marine says hi to mom on the news
The U.S. Marine is seen greeting their mother on a news snippet.
Big Red Machine shows how to move in a straight line
The Big Red Machine is depicted showing how to move in a straight line, possibly for tactical reasons.
Would be a shame to see, should one of them lose
It would be a tragedy if any of them were to lose their lives.
Eighteen months in a foreign wasteland
They have been in the foreign country for a year and a half.
Scenes of terror still fresh and ripe
The terrifying experiences they have encountered persist in their memory.
Found a place to come face to face like the gutter-snipes
They come into contact with the enemy in close-quarters combat.
Whether you like it or not, there ain't no end in sight
The war's continuation seems inevitable, regardless of anyone's wishes.
Repeat chorus
The chorus is repeated to reinforce the central questions of the song.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@misterninetyseven2898
One of those classic rock songs that deserves more airplay
@JimWakable
Well, heard this song a couple times in my friend's room on Cassette tape, when we were both 13... remembered snippets of lines to this day, then decided to research which song that was; never realized it was Gowan until now, 31 years later! What a ride through my memories...
@KGBterminator333333
Been there myself listening to the cassette lol you know you're old when.
@domjal
.Back when we knew who the enemy was
@johnnypoker46
Great song, best track on 'Strange Animal'
@primeobjective7186
I used to love this as a kid and listen to it all the time, weird coming back to it now
@salvale9184
Damn
@bethdrivas
My kids love it. 9 and 10
@ShawnBarnesbass
AMS RMX16...........FTW!!!
@lepotdefleur9906
I think the song is about the Contras, seems about to be the timeline.