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.
I Feel
Dokken Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Touching something
Fingers reaching out
Senses burning
All from learning
No ones sees
The colors in my mind
Everything changes yet stays the same
Like darkness into day
I know what is to come
Long days without sun
Chorus
I feel
I feel
Slowly moving
Endless motion
Floating forward now
Soaring higher
Drifting nowhere
I felt that I was somewhere else
Total blindness still remains
Everyone changes - I stay the same
The hours slip away
I'll feel this pain no more
My future waits outside the door
Chorus
I feel - I feel (crystallized - piece of time)
I feel
The sun is shining over me
Warming my senses
I make a plea
I'm guilty of feeling
So why is it so hard to see
Chorus
I feel - I feel (crystallized - piece of time)
I feel - I feel
(blood stained eyes - open wide)
I feel
The lyrics to Dokken's song "I Feel" seem to reflect a sense of loneliness and isolation. The singer is experiencing something that is not appreciated by others because it is not visibly apparent. The opening lines suggest a feeling of distance from others, and perhaps even from oneself. The singer is touching something or reaching out, but there is a lack of connection. The sense of touch is not enough, and the singer's senses are burning from the lack of understanding from others. The line "No ones sees The colors in my mind" suggests that the singer is experiencing something that others cannot see. The colors in the mind could refer to emotions or experiences that are not visible to others, highlighting the singer's sense of isolation.
The second verse explores the theme of change. The singer describes themselves as being in "Silent darkness," which speaks their name. This could suggest a feeling of being lost or forgotten. The singer is aware of the changes happening around them, yet they feel stuck in the same place. The hours slip away as the singer feels pain, which hints at a feeling of stagnation or being unable to move forward. The chorus repeats "I feel" several times, suggesting that even though the singer is experiencing something that others don't understand, they still feel it.
The final verse introduces a sense of hope. The sun is shining over the singer, warming their senses, bringing a sense of clarity or understanding. The singer makes a plea, admitting to feeling guilty of feeling. This could suggest that the singer has been made to feel embarrassed or ashamed of their emotions by others. The final chorus repeats the earlier lines, adding in "blood stained eyes - open wide," which could suggest a sense of pain or trauma that the singer has experienced.
Line by Line Meaning
Seeing no one
Being alone and isolated
Touching something
Feeling a connection with something or someone
Fingers reaching out
Wishing to connect and touch someone else
Senses burning
Feeling intense passion or desire
All from learning
Having gained experience and knowledge, leading to these feelings
No one sees
These emotions are not visible to others
The colors in my mind
My imagination and innermost thoughts
Silent darkness speaks my name -
I feel lonely and unforgotten
Everything changes yet stays the same
The world keeps moving, but my situation remains unchanged
Like darkness into day
Despite the bleakness of my situation, I still hope for a better tomorrow
I know what is to come
I am aware of my future, but it doesn't change how I feel
Long days without sun
A metaphor for depression and despair
Chorus
Repeating the phrase 'I feel' emphasizing the intensity and complexity of the emotions being experienced
Slowly moving
Feeling lethargic and unmotivated
Endless motion
Life keeps moving, but I'm standing still
Floating forward now
Moving through life without purpose or direction
Soaring higher
Feeling inspired and uplifted
Drifting nowhere
Feeling lost and directionless
I felt that I was somewhere else
Feeling disconnected from reality
Total blindness still remains
Being unaware of the true nature of a situation
Everyone changes - I stay the same
Feeling stuck and unable to grow or change
The hours slip away
Time keeps moving, regardless of how I feel
I'll feel this pain no more
Hope for things to get better in the future
My future waits outside the door
Feeling optimistic about what's to come
The sun is shining over me
Feeling happy and content
Warming my senses
Feeling alive and connected to the world around me
I make a plea
Asking for help or understanding
I'm guilty of feeling
Feeling ashamed or overwhelmed by the intensity of the emotions being experienced
So why is it so hard to see
Others may not understand or appreciate the complexity of these emotions
(blood stained eyes - open wide)
A vivid image to emphasize the emotional turmoil being experienced
Chorus
Repeating the phrase 'I feel' emphasizing the intensity and complexity of the emotions being experienced
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: GEORGE LYNCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind