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.
Deep Waters
Dokken Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
you know I haven't lost my mind
I'm just tired
I see the souls on the street
they're all crying
I'm not trying to be 'cuz I'm no better than the dying
no I'm not trying to be the one
that other realm I'll find
strawberry streams we'll drink from
white frosted clouds we'll sail on
and when I leave this place
that other realm I'll find
sun dripping rainbow colors I'm sailing to
You know I never thought I'd see the loneliness of dying
you know I thought I'd be the one that wasn't fighting
how I wish that I could leave and find a place that's quiet
'cuz I truly do believe that someday I will find
deep waters we sail on
No wonder I falter
how does life release this fear
se we can set out on that journey we call life
When my friend comes to call
will I recognize all the things that have been told
will it fill my eyes
when the sun releases me
and the night begins to cradle
all the visions I have seen
guide me into deep waters
And when I leave this place
that other realm I'll find
strawberry streams we'll drink from
white frosted clouds we'll sail on
and when I leave this place
soft heathered fields we'll stroll on
sun dripping rainbow colors I'm sailing to
Deep waters
I can't seem to find you - no
I can't seem to find you - no
I can't seem to find you
Deep waters
The song 'Deep Waters' by Dokken is a reflection on life, death, and the search for peace. The lyrics suggest that the singer is tired of the struggles of life and sees others around him who are also struggling. He wishes to find a quiet place where he can escape the pain and the noise of the world. The lyrics go on to describe a vision of an afterlife where the soul can find peace and happiness, sailing on white frosted clouds, drinking from strawberry streams and strolling in soft heathered fields. However, the searching is not easy, and the singer expresses his frustration in not being able to find these 'deep waters'.
Line by Line Meaning
It's been a long time since I felt this way
I haven't felt this way in a while.
you know I haven't lost my mind
I am not crazy.
I'm just tired
I am exhausted.
I see the souls on the street
I see the people on the street.
they're all crying
They are all sad.
I'm not trying to be 'cuz I'm no better than the dying
I am not trying to be happy because I am not better than those who are dying.
no I'm not trying to be the one
I don't want to be the only one.
And when I leave this place
When I die.
that other realm I'll find
I will find another world.
strawberry streams we'll drink from
We will drink from streams that taste like strawberries.
white frosted clouds we'll sail on
We will sail on clouds that look like they are covered in snow.
sun dripping rainbow colors I'm sailing to
I will sail to a place where the sun is creating rainbow colors.
You know I never thought I'd see the loneliness of dying
I never expected to witness the isolation that comes with dying.
you know I thought I'd be the one that wasn't fighting
I thought I would be the one not struggling.
how I wish that I could leave and find a place that's quiet
I wish I could find a peaceful place to go.
'cuz I truly do believe that someday I will find
I believe that someday I will find that peaceful place.
deep waters we sail on
We are sailing on deep waters.
No wonder I falter
I'm not surprised I'm struggling.
how does life release this fear
How does life get rid of this fear?
se we can set out on that journey we call life
So we can begin the journey we call life.
When my friend comes to call
When death comes for me.
will I recognize all the things that have been told
Will I remember everything I have been taught?
will it fill my eyes
Will it be overwhelming?
when the sun releases me
When I die.
and the night begins to cradle
When the night begins.
all the visions I have seen
All the things I have imagined.
guide me into deep waters
Lead me into the deep waters.
soft heathered fields we'll stroll on
We will walk through fields of heather.
Deep waters
The depths of the ocean.
I can't seem to find you - no
I can't seem to find the deep waters.
I can't seem to find you - no
I can't seem to find the deep waters.
I can't seem to find you
I can't seem to find the deep waters.
Contributed by Lincoln D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Stephen Hood
George Lynch is such a talented guitarist!! He has put out some of the sickest riffs of all time!! Wicked sensation has some top notch shredding taking place. I love Rockin with Dokken!! It's a shame Don and George couldn't get along, they still had years of kick ass music to make a head of them.
Wall of Rock
Thanks for watching, my friend!
NaturalMystic
Wow thanks for posting this! I didn't realize Dokken had demo'd Give It Up, I assumed Don had written it with his solo band. That album, "Up From The Ashes", is as good as, or better than anything he put out with Dokken.
Here's the link to the Don Dokken version: https://youtu.be/NXQ1oPHdnNY and here's the link to the full "Up From The Ashes" album: https://youtu.be/z3X_28VXYK4
Great stuff! I still listen to it regularly and wish they'd put out more material together.
Limited Light
Just because it's posted here is no guarantee this demo was from his work with Brown, Lynch & Pilson.
nate schmidt
that is John Norum on guitar on that tune. I know for a fact
Limited Light
@nate schmidt Aren't there a bunch of demos where someone such as Glenn Hughes was helping Don out post 1988?
Wall of Rock
Thanks for watching, my friend!
GameBoyCat
Besides some songs on Shadowlife, there's not one Dokken song I merely dislike. Even the demos kick ass!!! Best heavy metal group ever!
Wall of Rock
You said it all, my friend! Thanks for watching!
Nonrev Nosnibor Metal & Beer reviews
Shadowlife was a terrible album, the rest are killer