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 Surrender
Dokken Lyrics
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Lying in the burning sun
This world has bleached my bones
I should have taken your advice
Lying all alone
Lost to all my memories
Feeling like a stone
The desert falls
In my mind an endless sea
I will never know
What was and that will never be
Deep within this hole
Flowers lying on my bed
Softly as you speak
Telling me that you've been sad
Leave me here alone
'Cause I won't be coming back again
The moments that we own
Lie scattered in the sand
I surrender, surrender
All my love for you
Please remember, remember babe
I'll be there for you
Leave me here alone
'Cause I won't be coming back again
The moments that we own
Lie broken in the hands of time
I surrender, I surrender
All my love for you
Please remember, remember
I'll be there for you
I surrender, surrender
All my love for you
Please remember, remember babe
I'll be there for you, for you
The lyrics to Dokken's song "I Surrender" depict a sense of defeat and loss. The singer feels abandoned and forgotten, lying alone in the hot desert sun. The world has taken its toll on him, and he acknowledges that he should have listened to the advice given to him. He is lost in his memories, feeling like a stone with the sky weeping above him. The metaphor of the desert falling and an endless sea in his mind implies a feeling of hopelessness and despair. He recognizes that he will never know what could have been, and this realization weighs heavily on him.
As the song continues, the singer imagines himself deep within a hole, with flowers on his bed and someone softly speaking to him. This person tells him that they've been sad, which implies that they too have suffered a loss. This exchange is emotional and tender, as they share their pain with each other. Ultimately, though, the singer knows that he must surrender - surrender his love for the person he is speaking to. The final lines of the song repeat the chorus, emphasizing the idea that the singer is giving up and letting go of their love.
Line by Line Meaning
Leave me here alone
I want to be left by myself
Lying in the burning sun
I feel exposed and vulnerable
This world has bleached my bones
The world has worn me down and made me tired
I should have taken your advice
I regret not listening to you
Lying all alone
I feel isolated and disconnected
Lost to all my memories
I can't remember anything worthwhile
Feeling like a stone
I feel heavy and immovable
As the sky above me starts to weep
It starts to rain, reflecting my sadness
The desert falls
My surroundings are dry and barren
In my mind an endless sea
My thoughts are overwhelming and consuming
I will never know
There are some things I will never understand
What was and that will never be
I regret the missed opportunities of the past
Deep within this hole
I feel trapped and hopeless
Flowers lying on my bed
There is some beauty in my life
Softly as you speak
You are trying to comfort me
Telling me that you've been sad
You are sharing your pain with me
Leave me here alone
I want to be alone again
'Cause I won't be coming back again
I won't come back here again
The moments that we own
The good times we had together
Lie scattered in the sand
They are now lost and broken
I surrender, surrender
I give up, I give in
All my love for you
I still love you deeply
Please remember, remember babe
I hope you don't forget me
I'll be there for you
I'll try to support you in the future
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Don Dokken, Jonathan Daniel Levin, Mick Brown
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind