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 Your Honor
Dokken Lyrics
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Prayed for forgiveness for the things that I said
And now I wake up and see I was wrong
All those years wasted / now come and gone
How many years have I been this way
The lines grow deeper / time fades away
Now etched in stone don't have the strength anymore
To break down these walls again
Everything will come around again
And you never know that maybe someday
Everything will come around again
Now I see you on the other side
Sunshine raining down upon your face
You look so beautiful that place where you live
You walk among your dreams we talked about
So I stand here and I stare
In my garden of neglect
Never noticed it before
That it's winter all the time
Was too busy staring at
Your garden that you grew in time
I can see it took a lot of years
Your colors fill my mind
I lit a candle in your honor today
Everything will come around again
And you never know that maybe someday
Everything will come around again
Even though the years keep passing / I reflect
About the one I truly loved and pushed away
Suddenly I stop and feel
That winter rain I know so well
And close my eyes
Wish you all the best
And you never know
I lit a candle in your honor today
Everything will come around
And you never know that maybe someday
Everything will come around
I lit a candle in your honor today
Prayed for forgiveness for the things that I said
And you never know that maybe someday
Everything will come around
The song "In Your Honor" by Dokken is a heartfelt tribute to a departed loved one who had been pushed away by the singer. It begins with the singer lighting a candle in the departed’s honor and praying for forgiveness for the things that he said. The singer acknowledges that he was wrong and that time has slipped away. He reflects on how many years he has been this way and how time has etched his mistakes into stone. The singer mourns his own neglect in not realizing the beauty around him, and how he did not see that it was winter all the time as he was too busy looking at the garden that the departed grew in time. Now, he sees the departed on the other side, and he wishes him all the best. The song ends with the singer lighting another candle, praying for forgiveness once again, and acknowledging that everything will come around someday.
The lyrics to “In Your Honor” are open to interpretation, but it is widely believed that the song is about lead singer Don Dokken’s departed best friend and former bandmate, Steve Barry. Some point to the lyrics, "You walk among your dreams we talked about” as evidence of their musical connection, while others point to the lyrics “was too busy staring at your garden that you grew in time” as a reflection of Steve's interest in gardening. Regardless of the inspiration, the song is a powerful message about love, regret, and hope.
Line by Line Meaning
I lit a candle in your honor today
I am paying tribute to you and acknowledging your importance in my life, even though you may no longer be with me.
Prayed for forgiveness for the things that I said
I am seeking forgiveness for any hurtful things I may have said to you in the past.
And now I wake up and see I was wrong
Upon reflection, I realize that my actions towards you were misguided and caused harm.
All those years wasted / now come and gone
I regret the time that was lost when we were distant from each other, and acknowledge that it can never be regained.
How many years have I been this way
I question how long I have carried this emotional burden and allowed it to affect our relationship.
The lines grow deeper / time fades away
As I age, the physical evidence of my emotional pain becomes more apparent, and yet time continues to pass by quickly.
Now etched in stone don't have the strength anymore / To break down these walls again
I feel that my negative attitudes and beliefs towards our relationship have become so fixed that I no longer have the energy to change them.
Everything will come around again
I believe that life is cyclical and there may be future opportunities to mend our relationship.
And you never know that maybe someday
I remain hopeful that there may be a chance for healing and reconciliation.
Now I see you on the other side / Sunshine raining down upon your face / You look so beautiful that place where you live / You walk among your dreams we talked about
I imagine how happy and fulfilled you must be in the afterlife, free from pain and surrounded by the things we once imagined together.
So I stand here and I stare / In my garden of neglect / Never noticed it before / That it's winter all the time
I am realizing that by focusing on my own pain, I have neglected my own life and failed to appreciate the beauty that exists around me.
Was too busy staring at / Your garden that you grew in time / I can see it took a lot of years / Your colors fill my mind
I have been so fixated on your success and happiness that I failed to cultivate and appreciate my own achievements and the beauty in my own life.
Even though the years keep passing / I reflect / About the one I truly loved and pushed away
Although years have gone by, I continue to reflect on the love we had and the ways in which I contributed to our separation.
Suddenly I stop and feel / That winter rain I know so well / And close my eyes / Wish you all the best
At this moment, I am acutely aware of my own sadness and pain, and wish you happiness and peace.
And you never know / I lit a candle in your honor today / Everything will come around
Although I do not know what the future holds, I honor your memory and the importance you had in my life.
And you never know that maybe someday / Everything will come around
I remain hopeful that there may be a second chance for us to repair our relationship and grow together.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: DON DOKKEN, JEFF PILSON, MICK BROWN, RICHARD E BEACH JR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind