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.
Haunted
Dokken Lyrics
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Should have known you by another name
I tried to be a believer babe
But I sank down in your shame
Livin' on the east side I was in the west
I tried to bring my love to you
But you trashed me like the rest
I've been haunted by your love
You gave me heartbreak
Tried to be your lover, tried to be your friend
Tried to take your pain away
Would have loved you to the end
But their ain't no use in cryin'
I will get along
Hope you find your happiness
In your misery and woe
And I hope you're cryin' all alone
You left me haunted by your love
Haunted
And when you wake you find you're still alone
Drownin' in your tears
Will you see what you have done
When the love I had for you is gone
The lyrics to Dokken's song Haunted are essentially about how the singer was wronged by a woman named Sophia. He had tried to believe in her and bring his love to her, despite any mistakes she may have made in the past. However, she ultimately betrayed him and hurt him deeply, haunting him with her love and causing him heartbreak. Despite his efforts to be her lover and friend, he acknowledges that there is no point in crying over her and hopes that she finds happiness, even if it's without him. He ends by speculating whether Sophia will come to regret her actions and be consumed by her own misery.
Overall, these lyrics capture the pain and confusion that can come with relationships that end badly. The repetition of the word "haunted" reinforces the emotional impact of Sophia's actions on the singer, and the imagery of drowning in tears and being consumed by misery drives home the idea that the fallout from a bad relationship can be overwhelming. The singer's eventual acceptance of the situation and hope for Sophia's happiness indicate a level of maturity and introspection that makes these lyrics all the more striking.
Line by Line Meaning
Said you were Sophia
You claimed to be someone you're not
Should have known you by another name
I should have seen through the lies
I tried to be a believer babe
I wanted to trust you despite doubts
But I sank down in your shame
I ended up feeling embarrassed for giving in
Livin' on the east side I was in the west
I was too far away to make our relationship work
I tried to bring my love to you
I attempted to make the relationship work despite distance
But you trashed me like the rest
You treated me poorly like everyone before
I've been haunted by your love
Your presence constantly lingers and affects me
You gave me heartbreak
You caused me a lot of emotional pain
Tried to be your lover, tried to be your friend
I attempted to be there for you in any way possible
Tried to take your pain away
I aimed to help you ease your troubles
Would have loved you to the end
I would have stayed with you through thick and thin
But their ain't no use in cryin'
There's no point in mourning over the failed relationship
I will get along
I will move on and be okay
Hope you find your happiness
I wish you the best in life
In your misery and woe
Despite my pain, I don't wish you ill
And I hope you're cryin' all alone
I hope you realize what you did and feel regret
You left me haunted by your love
Your actions had lasting effects on me
Haunted
I can't escape the memories
And when you wake you find you're still alone
You'll realize that you've lost someone who cared for you
Drownin' in your tears
You'll feel deep remorse for your mistakes
Will you see what you have done
You might finally understand the consequences of your actions
When the love I had for you is gone
It will finally hit you that I've moved on
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: DON DOKKEN, JONATHAN DANIEL LEVIN, KELLY KEELING, MICK BROWN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind