Dokken is an American hard rock / heavy metal band that was formed in 1978.… Read Full Bio ↴Dokken is an American hard rock / heavy metal band that was formed in 1978. Having big success in the 80s with tracks such as "Dream Warriors", "It's Not Love", "In My Dreams", and others, they sold over ten million albums worldwide yet faced internal battles over their direction. The group split up in 1989, having accumulated numerous charting singles and earned a Grammy nomination, and they've had sporadic reunions since then.

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.

Eighteen
Dokken Lyrics

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Lines form on my face and hands
Lines form from the ups and downs
I'm in the middle without any plans
I'm a boy and I'm a man

I'm eighteen
And I don't know what I want
Eighteen

I just don't know what I want
Eighteen
I gotta get away
I gotta get out of this place
I'll go runnin in outer space
Oh yeah

I got a
Baby's brain and an old man's heart
Took eighteen years to get this far
Don't always know what I'm talkin' about
Feels like I'm livin in the middle of doubt

Cause I'm

Eighteen
I get confused every day
Eighteen
I just don't know what to say
Eighteen
I gotta get away

Lines form on my face and my hands
Lines form on the left and right
I'm in the middle
The middle of life
I'm a boy and I'm a man
I'm eighteen and I like it
Yes I like it
Oh I like it
Love it
Like it
Love it
Eighteen!
Eighteen!

Eighteen!
Eighteen and I like it

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Dokken's song "Eighteen" explore the confusion and uncertainty that comes with being eighteen years old, caught between the transition from adolescence to adulthood. The lines forming on the singer's face and hands represent the physical signs of aging and the experiences that have shaped them. These lines also symbolize the ups and downs, the joys and challenges faced in life. The singer finds themselves in the middle, without any concrete plans or direction, unsure about their desires and aspirations.

The repetition of the statement "I'm a boy and I'm a man" reflects the internal conflict that often arises during this stage of life. They are still connected to their childhood innocence, represented by the "baby's brain", yet they also carry the weight of an "old man's heart" which suggests the burden of responsibility and life experiences. The eighteen years it took to reach this point signify the journey of growth and self-discovery that has brought them to their current state of confusion and doubt.

The chorus expresses the singer's desire to escape their current situation and the need for a change. They feel trapped and unsure, searching for a way to break free and find clarity. The repetition of the line "I gotta get away" emphasizes their yearning for a fresh start, a new environment where they can find themselves and figure out their true desires.

Line by Line Meaning

Lines form on my face and hands
Visible signs of aging appear on my face and hands

Lines form from the ups and downs
The experiences, both good and bad, have left their mark on me

I'm in the middle without any plans
I find myself in a state of uncertainty and lack of direction

I'm a boy and I'm a man
I possess qualities of both youthfulness and maturity

I'm eighteen
I have reached the age of eighteen

And I don't know what I want
I am unsure of my desires and aspirations

I just don't know what I want
I am uncertain about my own preferences

I gotta get away
I feel the need to escape from my current situation

I gotta get out of this place
I have a strong desire to leave my current surroundings

I'll go runnin in outer space
I fantasize about exploring new and unknown territories

I got a
I possess

Baby's brain and an old man's heart
A combination of youthful thinking and mature emotions

Took eighteen years to get this far
It took me eighteen years to reach this point in my life

Don't always know what I'm talkin' about
I often find myself uncertain of the meaning behind my words

Feels like I'm livin in the middle of doubt
I constantly experience a state of uncertainty and indecision

I get confused every day
I find myself feeling perplexed and unsure on a daily basis

I just don't know what to say
I struggle to find the right words or express myself properly

Lines form on my face and my hands
Time continues to leave its mark on my physical appearance

Lines form on the left and right
The ups and downs of life are etched on both sides of my existence

I'm in the middle
I exist in a state of being neither fully young nor fully old

The middle of life
I am currently at a point where I am neither beginning nor ending

I'm eighteen and I like it
I am eighteen years old and I enjoy this stage of life

Yes I like it
I truly appreciate and enjoy being eighteen

Oh I like it
I genuinely derive pleasure from being this age

Love it
I have a strong affection or fondness for being eighteen

Like it
I find great satisfaction or enjoyment in being this age

Love it
I have a deep and profound love for this stage of life

Eighteen!
I am celebrating and embracing the fact that I am eighteen

Eighteen!
I am proud of my age being eighteen

Eighteen!
I am energetically expressing my joy in being eighteen

Eighteen and I like it
I am enthusiastic about and content with being eighteen

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: P. ALEXANDER, C. HARRIS, SHAD MOSS, JAMES PHILLIPS, J. SMITH

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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