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.
Hello
Dokken Lyrics
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Swimming in the night's black water
Justifies a child's exsistance
Innocence abounds within us
But what does it matter
Watch my hand turn shades of gray
Feel my life's breath fade away
Soon I'll walk through gates of steel
To a place not yet revealed
But what does it matter
Hello death, hello death
Hello death -- how do you do?
I don't remember calling you
All I need is just a drink of water
Help me jesus -- try to ease my pain
All I need is just to drink your water
Hello mr. death please go away
Here I go into the earth
And here I'll wait until my birth
I will rise again someday
Tranquility will find a way
But what does it matter
Hello death, hello death
Hello death -- how do you do?
I don't remember calling you
All I need is just a drink of water
Help me jesus -- try to ease my pain
All I need is just to drink your water
Hello mr. death please go away
The lyrics to Dokken's "Hello" paint a picture of someone who is slowly losing their life and is accepting their impending fate while also expressing a fear of death. The opening lines describe the sensation of drowning or being surrounded by liquid, which can represent being overwhelmed by life's obstacles. The next few lines seem to be reflecting on the value of a child's innocence and how it can be lost in the face of life's difficulties. The singer then asks, "But what does it matter?" suggesting a resigned acceptance of their fate.
As the song progresses, the theme of death becomes even more prominent, as the singer speaks directly to death as if it were a person. The repeated phrase of "Hello death, hello death, how do you do?" highlights a sense of inevitability, as if the singer has come to terms with the fact that death is coming for them. They even ask for a drink of water and for Jesus to ease their pain, indicating a sense of desperation and a search for comfort in the face of death.
The final lines of the song offer a glimmer of hope, as the singer acknowledges their impending death and suggests that they will rise again someday. This could represent a belief in an afterlife or reincarnation, offering comfort and a sense of continuity beyond death. Ultimately, the lyrics to "Hello" paint a complex portrait of someone grappling with their own mortality, expressing both fear and acceptance in the face of death.
Line by Line Meaning
Liquid fused around my body
I feel like I'm floating and surrounded by a fluid-like substance
Swimming in the night's black water
I'm metaphorically swimming in darkness and uncertainty
Justifies a child's existence
The idea of innocence and purity makes life worth living
Innocence abounds within us
We are all born pure and untainted
But what does it matter
Despite these feelings, there's a sense of hopelessness or apathy
Watch my hand turn shades of gray
I can physically see my life slipping away
Feel my life's breath fade away
I'm aware that I'm dying
Soon I'll walk through gates of steel
I'm acknowledging the inevitability of death
To a place not yet revealed
I don't know what's going to happen after I die
Hello death, hello death
I'm addressing death as if it's a person
Hello death -- how do you do?
I'm greeting death sarcastically
I don't remember calling you
I'm aware that I didn't choose to die
All I need is just a drink of water
I'm physically thirsty, but could also be a metaphor for spiritual thirst
Help me jesus -- try to ease my pain
I'm pleading for help in this moment of suffering
Hello mr. death please go away
I'm still in denial and don't want to die
Here I go into the earth
I'm being buried after death
And here I'll wait until my birth
I'll be waiting in the ground until I'm reborn in some way
I will rise again someday
There's a belief in an afterlife or rebirth
Tranquility will find a way
Eventually everything will be okay
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Don Dokken, George Lynch, Jeff Pilson, Mick Brown
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind