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.
In My Dreams
Dokken Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your love is strong, it still remains
Toss and turn all night in the sheets
But I can't sleep
Night after night, don't know what it means
In my dreams
You won't come back, we're through
I've realized too late
That baby, your love has turned away
In my dreams, it's still the same
Your love is strong, it still remains
In my dreams, you're still by me
Just the way it used to be
Calling your name but you're turning away
Please don't leave
Running in circles, waiting to see you
In my dreams
What can I say or do?
You won't come back, we're through
I've realized too late
That baby, your love has turned away
In my dreams, it's still the same
Your love is strong, it still remains
In my dreams, you're still by me
Just the way it used to be
Oh, in my dreams, it's still the same
Your love is strong, it still remains
In my dreams, you're still by me
Just the way it used to be
In my dreams, it's still the same
Your love is strong, it still remains
In my dreams, you'll always be
In my heart and in my dreams
In my dreams, it's still the same
In my dreams, you're still by me
In my dreams, just the way it used to be (in my dreams)
In my dreams, what can I say?
In my dreams, you're still by me
And in my dreams, you'll always be
In my dreams, you'll always be
In my dreams, your love is strong
In my dreams, you're still the same
In my dreams
In my dreams
In my dreams
The song “In My Dreams” by Dokken is a melancholic expression of unrequited love, with the singer being unable to let go of their former lover even in their dreams. The first verse establishes the insomnia and confusion that the singer experiences, as they struggle to understand why their former lover left them. In the chorus, they describe how in their dreams, their former lover’s love remains strong, and they are still with them the way they used to be. The second verse repeats the singer’s confusion and regret for realizing too late that their former lover’s love had turned away. They end the song with a repetition of the chorus, expressing that in their dreams, their former lover will always be in their heart and by their side.
The song’s lyrics are incredibly relatable, as anyone who has experienced heartbreak and can’t seem to let go of their former lover can relate to how difficult it is to move on. The use of dreams in the lyrics also adds to the melancholic tone, as it signifies a sense of loss and longing that the singer can only express in their unconscious state.
Line by Line Meaning
Toss and turn all night in the sheets
I am restless and cannot sleep, constantly moving around and changing positions in bed
I can't sleep
Despite my efforts, I am unable to fall asleep and am plagued by insomnia
Night after night don't know what it means
I experience this same sleeplessness every night and cannot discern the reason behind it
In my dreams
Despite my sleeplessness, I still find comfort in my dreams
What can I say or do
I am at a loss as to how to reconcile our relationship
You won't come back, we're through
You have left me, and there is no chance of us getting back together
I've realized too late
I understand now that I should have acted differently, but it is too late to make things right
That, baby, your love has turned away
You no longer have feelings for me and have moved on from our relationship
In my dreams, it's still the same
In my dreams, our relationship is still intact and thriving
Your love is strong, it still remains
In my dreams, your love for me is unwavering and enduring
You're still by me
In my dreams, you are still present in my life and by my side
Just the way it used to be
Our relationship in my dreams is just as it once was before things fell apart
Calling your name, but you're turning away
I am calling out for you, but you are ignoring me and turning your back
Please don't leave
I beg of you not to walk away from our relationship and to stay with me
Running in circles, waiting to see you
I am stuck in a never-ending cycle of waiting and hoping to see you again
In my heart and in my dreams
You hold a special place in my heart and continue to appear in my dreams
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Mick Brown, Jeff Pilson, Don Dokken, George Lynch
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@vigilantvoice9778
I don’t know if anyone else is here in 2024, but I am in February! I remember jamming to Dokken as a kid years ago, and it never gets old!
@robertchutonogbanua2564
I saw Dokken in concert in 1985! They opened for Twisted Sister at the Spectrum in Philadelphia. Dokken blew Twisted Sister away that night.
@Alicia-rv5yg
😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊
@Alicia-rv5yg
😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊
@Alicia-rv5yg
😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊
@Who-Dey22
I'm here brother March 2024! Rokken w Dokken🎸!
@vickywilliams2195
I'm 57 ans still rocking to the Dokken! Thank you Don, Jeff, George and wild Mick!!
@pjf7395
Man, it's 2023 and this song is STILL kicking ass. The guitar riffs, the vocals, the energy, it all just kicks so much ass. I love 80's metal and this song encapsulates everything that made the 80's so damn awesome. How has this video only got 10 million views? It freakin' ROCKS. Thank you Dokken!!!!
@roosterdope6778
First time today ever hearing about them. Saw their name mentioned in a Facebook post about Guns N’ Roses
@user-ob7vn3kz6p
The stadium 🏟️ hooks too... Loved them since Tooth and nail....