Dokken is an American hard rock / heavy metal band that was formed in 1978.… Read Full Bio ↴Dokken is an American hard rock / heavy metal band that was formed in 1978. Having big success in the 80s with tracks such as "Dream Warriors", "It's Not Love", "In My Dreams", and others, they sold over ten million albums worldwide yet faced internal battles over their direction. The group split up in 1989, having accumulated numerous charting singles and earned a Grammy nomination, and they've had sporadic reunions since then.

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.

Just Got Lucky
Dokken Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I should of known better
Should of seen right through
Over and over falling in love with you
Wanting you for myself- my first mistake
Finding out the hard way
Was all that I could take

You were just using someone

And I was the one

She said "You just got lucky"
I believed your deadly lies
"You just got lucky"
You're a devil in disguise

Don't want to hear no lies- no apologies
Imagination gets the best of me
I'm looking everywhere- still I see your face
I'll never forget you- you put me in my place

You were just using someone
And I was the one

She said "You just got lucky"
I believed your deadly lies
"You just got lucky"
I've been hypnotized
She said "You just got lucky"
I believed your deadly lies
"You just got lucky"
You're a devil in disguise

Now that is over and I've seen right through
Not looking back again I'll start anew
Was making love to you such a wasted time
Maybe I love you, still, I'll get you off my mind

You were just using someone
And I was the one

She said "You just got lucky"
I believed your deadly lies
"You just got lucky"
I've been hypnotized
She said "You just got lucky"
I was taken by surprise

"You just got lucky"
You're a devil in disguise

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Dokken's song "Just Got Lucky" tell the story of someone who has fallen in love with a person who is only using them for their own gain. The singer acknowledges that they should have seen through the lies from the beginning but was blinded by their infatuation. The chorus repeats the phrase "You just got lucky," which is a sarcastic retort to the reality that the singer has been manipulated by the person they loved. The lines "You're a devil in disguise" and "I've been hypnotized" further emphasize the idea that the singer has been taken advantage of and fooled.

The second verse illustrates the singer's frustration and desire for the truth. They do not want to hear any more lies and are desperately searching for a way to move on from the relationship. The lines "Imagination gets the best of me" and "I'll never forget you- you put me in my place" indicate that the singer is struggling to let go of the past and move on.

The final verse suggests a sense of acceptance and moving on. The singer realizes that their love for the person was wasted time and they need to start anew. They acknowledge that they may still love this person but are determined to get them off their mind.

Overall, the lyrics of "Just Got Lucky" tell a story of love, manipulation, and acceptance. The singer's journey of falling in love, being used, and eventually accepting the truth is a relatable experience that can resonate with many people.

Line by Line Meaning

I should of known better
I should have been more insightful

Should of seen right through
Should have been more perceptive

Over and over falling in love with you
Constantly being enamored with you

Wanting you for myself- my first mistake
Desiring you for my own - the beginning of my error

Finding out the hard way
Learning a lesson through difficult means

Was all that I could take
Was as much as I could bear

You were just using someone
You were simply utilizing another person

And I was the one
And I was that person