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.
Long Way Home
Dokken Lyrics
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Sitting in the crossfire all alone
Waiting for a world to show the way
Tried to find a rose without a thorn
Such a foolish notion fades away
Then why does it feel
Like there isn't any time
Walk the road [follow the madness]
Of someone's path
Search for self [well it doesn't mean you're wrong]
If you can
'cause it's gonna be ['cause it's gonna be]
A long way home
Wandering through the maze of all the fears
In the mind it makes no sense at all
Tell me not what I'm supposed to do
Crucify you christ without my cross
If it's all in my mind
Then why does it feel
Like I'm running out of time
Walk the road [follow the madness]
Of someone's path
Search for self [well it doesn't mean you're wrong]
If you can
'cause it's gonna be ['cause it's gonna be]
A long way home
Mythical past
Future behind me, shattered
I could not be
Someone beside
Take back my soul, my soul
Walk the road [follow the madness]
Of someone's path
Search for self [well it doesn't mean you're wrong]
If you can
'cause it's gonna be
A long way home
The lyrics of Dokken's song "Long Way Home" describe a journey towards self-discovery, filled with doubts and fears. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the song, with the singer feeling lost and waiting for guidance. He tries to find something perfect, represented by the rose without a thorn, but realizes it's an unrealistic expectation. The chorus acknowledges the difficulty of the journey ahead, the "long way home," and encourages the listener to forge their path, even if it means exploring madness.
The second verse talks about the maze of fears in the mind and rejecting what others think is right for us. The last two lines suggest the idea of the singer rejecting the conventional way of following Christ's example, but without the burden of the cross. The bridge takes a more metaphorical approach, with a reference to a mythical past and the shattered future, perhaps implying that the character is leaving their old beliefs behind and moving towards a better understanding of themselves.
Overall, "Long Way Home" is a song about taking charge of one's life and facing the unknown, even though the journey will be challenging. It invites the listener to explore their inner world without fear and embrace the uncertainty of the road ahead.
Line by Line Meaning
Sitting in the crossfire all alone
Feeling lost and in the middle of a difficult situation without any support
Waiting for a world to show the way
Hopeful and waiting for guidance or direction from society or the world
Tried to find a rose without a thorn
Searching for perfection or something without any flaws, only to realize it doesn't exist
Such a foolish notion fades away
Realizing the futility of searching for something that cannot be found
If it's all in my mind
Wondering if one's problems are all just internal and not caused by external circumstances
Then why does it feel
Questioning why the internal struggles still feel real and present
Like there isn't any time
Feeling rushed or like there is not enough time in life to accomplish what one wants
Walk the road [follow the madness]
Embracing an unconventional or unpredictable path in life
Of someone's path
Following in the footsteps of others instead of carving one's own path
Search for self [well it doesn't mean you're wrong]
Looking within oneself to find purpose, even if it goes against societal norms
If you can
Acknowledging that self-discovery and following one's own path may not be easy
'cause it's gonna be ['cause it's gonna be] A long way home
The journey to self-discovery and purpose may be a difficult and long one
Wandering through the maze of all the fears
Feeling lost and overwhelmed by various fears and anxieties
In the mind it makes no sense at all
Having a hard time rationalizing the fears and anxieties in one's mind
Tell me not what I'm supposed to do
Opposing the idea of being told what to do and instead wanting to find one's own way
Crucify you christ without my cross
Not letting external influences dictate one's beliefs or decisions
Mythical past
Referencing a past that may not have actually existed or has been romanticized
Future behind me, shattered
Feeling like the future one had imagined for oneself has fallen apart
I could not be
Feeling like one cannot live up to an idealized version of oneself
Someone beside
Feeling alone and like there is no one to turn to
Take back my soul, my soul
Desiring to regain control over one's own life and purpose
Lyrics © IMAGEM U.S. LLC
Written by: BROCK WALSH, ERIC CARMEN, PHILIP GALDSTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind