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.
Drown
Dokken Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Out of ammunition to regain my mental state
I found myself adrift upon an endless sea
Of lies and bitterness / horizon out of reach
I see the starts that shine / reflection in the waves
I need to find that distant shore
Before I drown
Slip beneath the waves and drown
Of love and heartache / there's got to be a way
That I can save myself before I drown
Too much conversation can erode our little minds
My emancipation comes with solitude at night
As the world sleeps / I contemplate all that's been done
I profess no innocence / I've held - held that smoking gun
I found myself atop a sea of ocean blue
Cast from a world that left me too
To drown
Slip beneath the waves and drown
Takes me to my grave
Of love and heartache / there's got to be a way
That I can save myself before I drown
I'll drown
Slip beneath the waves and drown
Takes me to my grave
And drown
From the pouring rain
Of love and heartache / there's got to be a way
I can save myself
Save myself before I drown
The song "Drown" by Dokken is an emotional ballad about feeling trapped, overwhelmed, and suffocated by the difficulties of love and heartbreak. The opening lines of the song evoke a sense of being caught in the middle of conflicting emotions - loving and hating someone at the same time. The singer feels like he has been used by love and hate, and is now helpless and unable to regain his mental peace. The metaphorical reference to being adrift in an endless sea of lies and bitterness conveys a strong sense of hopelessness and despair. The singer longs to find a distant shore - a way out of his pain and confusion - before he drowns completely.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the urgency and desperation of the situation. The imagery of slipping beneath the waves and drowning - of being consumed by love and heartache - underscores the gravity of the situation. The singer feels like he's running out of time to save himself. The bridge offers some respite from the intensity of the situation. The idea of solitude and introspection as a means of emancipation is starkly contrasted with the noise and distractions of the world. Here, the singer is able to come to terms with his own culpability in his problems.
Ultimately, the song is an introspective plea for help. The singer acknowledges that he is in a difficult place, but he also recognizes that there has to be a way to save himself. The use of water imagery throughout the song connects the feelings of drowning to the elemental aspects of life. The sense of being overwhelmed and carried away by something more powerful is palpable in the lyrics. However, there is a glimmer of hope in the refrain. The repeated assertion that there has to be a way out suggests that the singer is not completely resigned to his fate.
Line by Line Meaning
I been left in the crossfire / sacrificed to love and hate
I've been caught between two opposing forces, and because of that, I've suffered greatly because of love and hate.
Out of ammunition to regain my mental state
I don't have the resources anymore to restore my mental well-being.
I found myself adrift upon an endless sea
I feel lost in a vast, never-ending expanse.
Of lies and bitterness / horizon out of reach
I'm surrounded by deceitfulness and resentment, and the idea of finding hope for the future seems out of reach.
I see the starts that shine / reflection in the waves
Nevertheless, I still see light shining in the darkness like stars, reflected in the water below me.
I need to find that distant shore
Before I drown
I have to find a way to make it to a far-off shore before I succumb to my circumstances.
Slip beneath the waves and drown
Takes me to my grave
Of love and heartache / there's got to be a way
That I can save myself before I drown
If I give up, I'll die with a heavy heart filled with heartache and disappointment, so I have to find a way to save myself before I get to that critical point.
Too much conversation can erode our little minds
Having too many distractions or pointless conversations can waste our time and mental energy.
My emancipation comes with solitude at night
I find my remedy from my problems when I am alone at night.
As the world sleeps / I contemplate all that's been done
While everyone is asleep, I am awake and thinking about what has happened.
I profess no innocence / I've held - held that smoking gun
I admit that I am not innocent, and I know that I am responsible for my problems.
I found myself atop a sea of ocean blue
Cast from a world that left me too
To drown
I am stranded on a blue ocean, ejected from a world that has given up on me.
Slip beneath the waves and drown
Takes me to my grave
Of love and heartache / there's got to be a way
That I can save myself before I drown
Once more, I'm reminded of the fact that giving up would be a mistake since it will end in misery and heartbreak. Instead, there must be a way to save myself before it is too late.
I'll drown
Slip beneath the waves and drown
Takes me to my grave
And drown
The notion of drowning is overwhelming as I feel consumed by my problems.
From the pouring rain
Of love and heartache / there's got to be a way
I can save myself
Save myself before I drown
Despite the rainy weather that symbolizes the turmoil, I know that there is a way out, and I have to save myself before it is too late.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Richard E Beach Jr, Mick Brown, Don Dokken, Jeff Pilson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind