Dokken was initially composed of founder Don Dokken on vocals, George Lynch on lead guitar, Juan Croucier on bass, and Mick Brown on drums. The southern California group pursued a heavy yet melodic sound reminiscent of prior bands such as Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, finding success in the 80s hard rock and metal boom. The band recorded and released 'Breaking the Chains', their first studio album, in 1983. Though their fortunes struggled somewhat in the United States, they picked up a big popular response in Europe.
In 1984, Croucier left Dokken in order to join Ratt. He was replaced by multi-instrumentalist Jeff Pilson, who soon became a rock idol alongside Don Dokken and George Lynch. Their next several albums and singles showed them to be a powerful commercial force, particularly winning fans with their music videos (their one for "Dream Warriors" even featured the band facing off against Freddy Krueger himself). Their 1988 live album 'Beast from the East' earned them a Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance as well. However, Don Dokken's and George Lynch's creative differences, as well as their growing personal conflicts, brought about tension and even caused the group to break-up in 1988, though they had released multi-platinum work appealing to numerous hard rockers and metalheads.
The band has faced many changes over the years since. It wasn't until 1995 that the group resurfaced and released new material, facing a rather tepid response. As time went on, only Dokken and Brown remained from the original line-up. After several personnel alterations on guitar, Dokken's former attorney Jon Levin even stepped in to fill the role in 2004. In 2009, Sean McNabb (formerly of Great White and Quiet Riot fame) took the bass guitar slot. Mark Boals (formely of Yngwie J. Malmsteen's Rising Force) then took McNabb's position in 2014.
A series of successful web commercials for Norton Internet Security 2010 put the group back in the spotlight, the comedic spots depicting the band as a malicious computer virus. Dokken's tenth studio album, titled 'Lightning Strikes Again', was released on May 13, 2008 via Rhino Records. Several critics recommended the work as a comeback to their 'classic' sound. Their 11th album was released in 2012, 'Broken Bones'.
In 2023, Dokken, now consisting of frontman and founder Don Dokken, guitarist Jon Levin, bassist Chris McGarvill and drummer BJ Zampa, unveiled 12th album, 'Heaven Comes Down', which will be released via Silver Lining Music on October 27, 2023.
Back in the Streets
Dokken Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I wake in the morning
I'm on the telephone
And I try to talk to ya
They say you're not home
Way back in the background
You say you don't wanna talk to me
You've had enough of me
Now I'm back in the streets
I've got nothing to lose
Just leave me alone
Don't call me no more
And I'm back in the streets
Now that you told me to go
Just leave me alone
Don't call me no more
And I'm out on the corner
I hear the sirens wails
You know they're coming to get me
Yeah, they'll take me to jail
Well, I can't stay out of trouble
Since you let me go
Now I'm back on the streets
I got nothing to lose
Now I'm back on the streets
Like you told me to go
Just leave me alone
Don't call me no more
And I'm back in the streets
Now that you told me to go
Just leave me alone
Don't call me no more
I'm out on the corner
I hear the sirens wail
And they're coming to get me
And they'll take me to jail
Well, I can't stay out of trouble
Since you let me go
Now I'm back on the streets
I got nothing to lose
Now I'm back in the streets
Like you told me to go
Just leave me alone
Don't call me no more
Now I'm back in the streets
Now that you told me to go
Just leave me alone
Don't call me no more
Now I'm back on the streets
And I'm back in the streets
Don't call me no more
The lyrics of "Back in the Streets" by Dokken tell the story of a man who wakes up and tries to communicate with a loved one who seems to have left him. Despite his attempts to contact her, he is told that she is not available to speak with him. The chorus declares that he is now back on the streets, and that he has nothing left to lose. He requests that he be left alone and that she not contact him any further. Despite his best intentions, he finds himself in trouble with the law and taken to jail.
The song is a statement about the frustration and sense of isolation that can come from a broken relationship. It highlights the feeling of being lost and having no anchor or support when things fall apart. The lyrics suggest that when someone loses the emotional support of a loved one, they can feel like they are adrift with no home or sense of belonging.
Line by Line Meaning
When I wake in the morning
The singer wakes up and begins thinking about the person he wants to talk to.
I'm on the telephone
He tries calling this person on the telephone.
And I try to talk to ya
He attempts to communicate with the person on the other end of the phone.
They say you're not home
However, he finds out that the person isn't available to talk.
Way back in the background
He hears the person calling out to him faintly in the distance.
I hear you callin' my name
He can hear the person saying his name.
You say you don't wanna talk to me
The person finally speaks up and tells him that they don't want to talk to him.
You've had enough of me
The individual is fed up with the artist and doesn't want to have anything to do with him anymore.
Now I'm back in the streets
The artist is back out on the streets after being rejected by the person he wanted to communicate with.
I've got nothing to lose
The artist feels as if he has nothing more to lose.
Just leave me alone
He wants the person to leave him alone in peace.
Don't call me no more
He tells the person not to call him anymore in the future.
And I'm out on the corner
The singer is hanging out in the streets, possibly causing trouble.
I hear the sirens wails
He heard the sound of sirens coming closer to his location.
You know they're coming to get me
He knows the sirens are coming for him.
Yeah, they'll take me to jail
The singer believes that he's going to end up in jail.
Well, I can't stay out of trouble
He admits he has trouble staying out of trouble.
Since you let me go
He blames the break-up on his recent misbehavior, implying that if he hadnβt messed up, he and his partner would still be together.
Now I'm back on the streets
He is back to life on the streets.
Like you told me to go
He thinks heβs back on the streets because his partner told him to leave.
Don't call me no more
He repeats his plea for his partner not to contact him.
And I'm back in the streets
He reiterates that he is back on the streets.
Lyrics Β© OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Robby T
This is awesome! It has kind of a punky vibe to it that I dig.
jlopez65
I bought this song as a single on a small record. It had a cover with Don chained up. I bought back around 1990 or so. I think it is somewhere in my garage in a box. "The Lost Record".
smartrn1
I have the Dokken Back in the Streets " bootleg" LP on Red Vinyl. One of my treasures. I asked Mick Brown about it Ina bar in Houston TX one time after buying him a Heineken. He said- We didn't even play on that! Jajajajajaja. π
Ajdin Osmanagic
Had that as well, red Lp vinyl, true.
Ajdin Osmanagic
It's true what Mick said. Only Don Dokken from all the laters band mates. Don also did solo parts, rhythm, etc...
Chris Stearns
Been listening for 4 decades! All time favorite Band! Don you rock, what a total talent...
Panturbo Fanger
β‘β‘β‘β‘ DOKKEN β‘β‘β‘β‘
βοΈ
Lost-and-Found
soulschoolboy66
Sound like MC5 on this track.
Daniel Delayne
Good call, the guitars are very Smith & Kramer here ππ»ππ»
Dokkengirl Jo
Listen to that voice! The beginning of a legend.- quickly became one of my top 3