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.
Bitter Regret
Dokken Lyrics
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Until the last train rides
I wanna stay with you
When the morning comes
And it's time to rise
But I can't lift my head - baby let me die
Release the sorrow - deep within my eyes
Life's only borrowed
Chorus
Don't build your world with bitter regret
'cause I still feel it's not over yet
What we've done we'll have to forget
Or all you'll reap is bitter regret
Wonderin' -how this came to pass
Why my future runs through the hourglass
Talk to me - 'cause I can't lift my head
Anti-social suicide lyin' on my bed
Release the sorrow - deep within my eyes
Life's only borrowed
Chorus
'cause I still feel it's not over yet
What we've done you'll have to forget
Or all we'll reap is bitter regret
[talkin' to my friend misfortune
Take me for a ride
How I wish that I could only
Give you back your life again]
Darlin' - I wanna stay with you
'til the morning comes
And that last train rides
In Dokken's song Bitter Regret, the singer seems to be pleading with his lover to let him stay with her until the last train arrives. He expresses a desire to die but also to release the sorrow deep within his eyes. He questions how his life has come to this point and wonders why his future seems to be running out. The chorus reminds the listener not to build their world with bitter regret, but rather to move on from mistakes and let go of the past.
Overall, the song seems to be addressing themes of regret and the potential for redemption, despite past mistakes. The lyrics express a desire to release negative feelings and move towards a brighter future with the comfort of a lover by one's side. The emotions within the song are conveyed through the use of metaphors, including the idea that life is only borrowed and that the future is like sand in an hourglass.
Line by Line Meaning
Darlin' -don't let me go
Please don't leave me
Until the last train rides
Stay with me until the very end
I wanna stay with you
I want to be close to you
When the morning comes
As time passes
And it's time to rise
As new opportunities arise
But I can't lift my head - baby let me die
I am feeling helpless
Release the sorrow - deep within my eyes
Let go of the past
Life's only borrowed
We only have a limited time to live
Don't build your world with bitter regret
Don't dwell on past mistakes
'cause I still feel it's not over yet
I believe we can make things right
What we've done we'll have to forget
We need to move on from our past actions
Or all you'll reap is bitter regret
Otherwise, we will face consequences
Wonderin' -how this came to pass
Thinking about how things ended up this way
Why my future runs through the hourglass
Feeling like time is running out
Talk to me - 'cause I can't lift my head
I need someone to talk to
Anti-social suicide lyin' on my bed
Feeling lonely and hopeless
[Release the sorrow - deep within my eyes/Life's only borrowed]
Same as before
'cause I still feel it's not over yet
I am still hopeful
What we've done you'll have to forget
We need to forget our past actions
Or all we'll reap is bitter regret
Or we will regret everything
[talkin' to my friend misfortune/Take me for a ride/How I wish that I could only/Give you back your life again]
Lyrics not provided
Darlin' - I wanna stay with you/'til the morning comes/And that last train rides
Same as before
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DON DOKKEN, GEORGE LYNCH, JEFF PILSON, MICK BROWN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind