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.
Convenience Store Messiah
Dokken Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A light ahead free coffee if you have no home
A parking lot full of people - same as me
Waiting for the messiah - his shift will start at three
Chorus
He's a real convenience store messiah
Idol worship for an idle mind
Turning bottled water into win
Waiting for the papers to come outside
They make such nice warm blankets - get in line
Sometimes he might let us - stay inside
The only one who will listen
He can be so kind
Chorus
He's a real convenience store messiah
Idol worship for an idle mind
He's a real convenience store messiah
Turning bottled water into wine
(they see through eyes)
Looking through his window
(a glowing light)
Staring at his vision late at night
(they idolize, they realize)
Reaching out their hands
Chorus
He's a real convenience store messiah
Idol worship for an idle mind
He's a real convenience store messiah
Turning bottled water into wine
The lyrics to Dokken's "Convenience Store Messiah" tell a poignant story about loneliness and desperation in a society where people have become increasingly isolated from one another. The singer is walking down dark streets by himself until he comes across a convenience store. He sees a light shining in the store's window and discovers that the store is offering free coffee to anyone who doesn't have a home, a gesture that suggests that the world has failed many people who have ended up living on the streets.
The singer observes that he is not alone in his plight, as there are many other people gathered in the store waiting for the "messiah," who will start his shift at 3 am. The messiah in this case is likely the convenience store clerk, who has become a symbol of hope and salvation for the singer and the other lost souls who frequent the store. They wait for him like he's someone who can save them from their problems and make everything right in their lives.
The chorus of the song describes the convenience store clerk as a "real convenience store messiah" and suggests that people are idolizing him because their minds are idle and looking for something to believe in. The clerk seems to have a magical ability to turn bottled water into wine, which is a metaphor for the transformative power he has on the lives of those who visit the store. Even though his magic is just an illusion, it's enough to give those who believe in him a sense of hope and purpose.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm walkin' down these dark streets - all alone
The singer is wandering through a lonely and dimly lit area.
A light ahead free coffee if you have no home
The singer sees a sign advertising free coffee for the homeless.
A parking lot full of people - same as me
The singer arrives at a location where other people, like himself, are in need of assistance.
Waiting for the messiah - his shift will start at three
The artist and others are anxiously waiting for a person who they see as a savior to arrive and help them, and they know that they will show up at three in the morning.
He's a real convenience store messiah
The person they are waiting for is seen as a savior or messiah-like figure.
Idol worship for an idle mind
The singer is criticizing the people who look up to this person, suggesting that it is a form of idol worship and is done by those with nothing better to do.
Turning bottled water into wine
The singer admires the person's ability to take something cheap and common and turn it into something better or more valuable.
Waiting for the papers to come outside
The people are waiting for newspapers to be delivered, which they can use as blankets to keep warm.
They make such nice warm blankets - get in line
The artist encourages the others to line up and wait for the blankets.
Sometimes he might let us - stay inside
The messiah-like figure sometimes allows them to come into the convenience store and stay there for a while.
The only one who will listen
The singer sees the messiah-like figure as the only person who will hear them out and show them any kind of sympathy or kindness.
Looking through his window
The people waiting outside are gazing at the window of the convenience store, trying to catch a glimpse of the messiah-like figure inside.
Staring at his vision late at night
They are watching the messiah-like figure intently, even late into the night.
Reaching out their hands
They are yearning for assistance and trying to connect with the messiah-like figure in some way.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DON DOKKEN, GEORGE LYNCH, JEFF PILSON, MICK BROWN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind