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.

Innocent
Gowan Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

What do I see behind those eyes
Who's that se cleverly disguised
Truth hurts or so they say
But a fool dies a thousand ways

And I know the blinding charm of the way you make
things seem
But alarms are ringing and I'm wide awake in your

land of dreams

How long did you think you could hide it
How far did you think I'd go
Now that I know exactly what you know
You say you're innocent
But you're not so innocent

Sweet honey's dripping from your lips
You're like the thief that never slips
One day you may confess
But til then do what you think best

There is so much more to you than you're willing to reveal
But this game you're playing is so outrageous it's so unreal
Tell me

How long did you think you could hide it
How far did you think I'd go
Now that I know exactly what you know
You say you're innocent
But you're not so innocent

In your tangled web there's someone who looks like me
But you better check again 'cause you're never sure of what you
Think you see

And one day you will have to face me
One day, it'll all come clean
I can't wait for that day to happen
I can't wait for that final scene

How long did you think you could hide it
How far did you think I'd go
Now that I know exactly what you know
Don't say you're innocent
Cause you're not so innocent

You know you're not so innocent

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Gowan's song Innocent tell a story of a person who realizes that someone close to them is not who they appear to be. The opening lines, "What do I see behind those eyes / Who's that so cleverly disguised," speak to the sense that this person is putting on a mask or persona to hide their true intentions or actions. The singer acknowledges that the truth may hurt, but ultimately living a lie hurts even more.

Throughout the song, the singer grapples with the realization that someone they trusted is not as innocent as they claimed to be. The lines "How long did you think you could hide it / How far did you think I'd go / Now that I know exactly what you know" show a sense of betrayal and disappointment. This is contrasted with the other person's claims of innocence, which the singer sees through as lies.

The lines "In your tangled web there's someone who looks like me / But you better check again 'cause you're never sure of what you / Think you see" suggest that the other person's manipulations are more intricate and far-reaching than the singer initially realized. However, the final lines of the song show a sense of empowerment, as the singer resolves to confront this person and hold them accountable for their actions.

Overall, Innocent is a powerful song that speaks to the complexity of human relationships and the importance of honesty and trust. It also showcases Gowan's storytelling abilities and powerful voice.

Line by Line Meaning

What do I see behind those eyes
I am trying to see beyond your facade and understand your true intentions

Who's that se cleverly disguised
Who is the person pretending to be someone they're not

Truth hurts or so they say
The truth can be painful, but it's better than living in a lie

But a fool dies a thousand ways
Staying ignorant and unaware can lead to many unfortunate outcomes

And I know the blinding charm of the way you make things seem
I understand how you make things seem more appealing than they really are

But alarms are ringing and I'm wide awake in your land of dreams
Despite your attempts to deceive me, I'm aware of the reality of the situation

Sweet honey's dripping from your lips
You are speaking deceptively and trying to lure me in

You're like the thief that never slips
You are skilled at covering your tracks and hiding your true intentions

One day you may confess
You may eventually come clean and reveal your true self

But til then do what you think best
Until that point, you will continue to do whatever benefits you the most

There is so much more to you than you're willing to reveal
You are hiding more than you are showing, and I want to understand it all

But this game you're playing is so outrageous it's so unreal
Your deception is so extreme that it's hard to believe it's real

How long did you think you could hide it
You cannot hide your true self forever

How far did you think I'd go
I will not stop until I uncover the truth

Now that I know exactly what you know
I have gained the knowledge I need to see through your lies

You say you're innocent
You continue to claim that you are not at fault

But you're not so innocent
Despite your claims, your actions prove otherwise

In your tangled web there's someone who looks like me
You have woven a complex web of deceit that involves someone similar to me

But you better check again 'cause you're never sure of what you think you see
You should double-check your assumptions because you may not be seeing things clearly

And one day you will have to face me
Eventually, you will have to confront me and answer for your actions

One day, it'll all come clean
The truth will eventually be revealed no matter how hard you try to hide it

I can't wait for that day to happen
I am eagerly anticipating the day when you will be exposed

I can't wait for that final scene
I am looking forward to the moment when everything is brought to light and justice is served

Don't say you're innocent
You cannot continue to claim that you are not at fault

Cause you're not so innocent
Your actions have shown that you are, in fact, responsible for what has happened

You know you're not so innocent
Deep down, you are aware that you are not blameless

Contributed by Owen R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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