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.
Don't Close Your Eyes
Dokken Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is it my memory, playing tricks on me
Out in the streets in the heat of the city
Here comes the night
Sky's turning grey and black
You knew that you were right
Don't close your eyes
Don't close your eyes
Don't close your eyes or I'll be there
Just a shadow in the dark, you've seen this face before
Is it just a fantasy, is he coming back for more
Out in the alleyways, there is no second chance
Moving up behind you, you've lost the game at last
Don't close your eyes
Don't close your eyes or I'll be there
Don't close your eyes
Don't close your eyes or I'll be there
Somebody's watching me, is it just a crazy dream
Is it my memory, playing tricks on me
Out in the alleyways, there is no second chance
Moving up behind you, you've lost the game at last
Don't close your eyes
The lyrics to Dokken’s Don’t Close Your Eyes tells a story of paranoia and fear. The singer feels like they are being watched by an unknown entity that may or may not be a product of their imagination. In the heat of the city, as the sky turns grey and black, the singer feels a sense of impending doom. They warn the listener not to close their eyes or the entity will be there waiting for them. The singer describes the entity as a shadow in the dark, a face that they have seen before, and moving up behind them. The lyrics suggest that whatever is watching them has malicious intent and the potential to cause harm. The fear and tension build as the song progresses, with the singer urging the listener to stay alert and aware of their surroundings.
The lyrics to Don’t Close Your Eyes speak to the human experience of fear and paranoia. It is easy to feel like we are being watched or followed, even in the safety of our own homes. The fear of the unknown can be overwhelming, and the lyrics tap into that deep-seated fear that lives within us all. This fear can be paralyzing, preventing us from enjoying life or taking risks. The lyrics urge us to keep our eyes open and remain vigilant, but also to recognize that sometimes our fears are irrational and can hold us back.
Line by Line Meaning
Somebody's watching me, is it just a crazy dream
I have a feeling that someone is watching me, but I'm not sure if it's real or just a figment of my imagination.
Is it my memory, playing tricks on me
Maybe my mind is deceiving me by conjuring up false memories that are making me feel paranoid.
Out in the streets in the heat of the city
I'm out in the busy streets of the city, where it's sweltering hot.
Here comes the night
The day is coming to an end, and darkness is imminent.
Sky's turning grey and black
The sky is changing colors and getting darker as the night takes over.
You knew that you were right
You had a gut feeling that something was wrong, and now you know that you were correct.
Don't close your eyes
Please don't shut your eyes, as something is about to happen.
Don't close your eyes or I'll be there
If you close your eyes, I'll be there watching you.
Just a shadow in the dark, you've seen this face before
There's a shadow lurking in the darkness that seems familiar to you.
Is it just a fantasy, is he coming back for more
I can't tell if this is all in my head or if this person is actually coming back for revenge.
Out in the alleyways, there is no second chance
Once you're in the dark alleys, there is no turning back or changing your fate.
Moving up behind you, you've lost the game at last
Your pursuer is sneaking up on you, and you have no way to win this game of cat and mouse.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DON DOKKEN, GEORGE LYNCH, JEFF PILSON, MICK BROWN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind