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.
Maddest Hatter
Dokken Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A conversation over tea
Then he told me / I'm standing all alone
There's a crowd of people eating at my throne
Is it just me / is it just you
Or is it everyone
I want the ordinary life
When the sky is dark I feel like it's light
I must confess / I'm the maddest hatter
Of them all
And it's so contrary that I know I shouldn't
Watch the rainbows circle my friend mary
I wish that I could fly so I can see much more
I wish that I could see things
Like the others do
If it's just me / then it's just you
I'm not the only one
I want the ordinary life
When the sky is dark I feel like it's light
I want the ordinary life
I must confess / I'm the maddest hatter
Of them all
I want the ordinary
I wanna be with my friend mary
I want the ordinary life
When the sky is dark I feel like it's light
I want the ordinary life
I must confess / I'm the maddest hatter
Of them all
I want the ordinary life
When the sky is dark I feel like it's light
I want the ordinary life
I must confess / I'm the maddest hatter
Of them all
The lyrics to Dokken's song "Maddest Hatter" are about a conversation between the singer and their rabbit friend. The conversation takes place over tea and the rabbit friend tells the singer that they feel alone because people are eating at their throne. The singer wonders if it's just them or everyone who feels this way. The singer then expresses their desire for an ordinary life where they can experience the light even in times of darkness. They confess to being the maddest hatter of them all and wanting to be with their friend Mary.
The song can be interpreted as a commentary on the tendency for humans to put themselves on a pedestal and feel isolated because of it. The imagery of the rabbit friend's throne being overtaken by people suggests that even those in positions of power can feel alone and disconnected. The line "when the sky is dark I feel like it's light" can be interpreted as a desire to find happiness in the dark times rather than constantly seeking the extraordinary.
Overall, the lyrics to "Maddest Hatter" convey a sense of yearning for simplicity and a desire for human connection. The rabbit friend serves as a symbol for the innocence and playfulness that the singer wishes to reclaim.
Line by Line Meaning
Talking to my rabbit friend he seems so bright indeed
The singer is having a conversation with their imaginary rabbit friend who is very wise and intelligent.
A conversation over tea
The singer is having a friendly chat with their imaginary rabbit friend, while enjoying a cup of tea.
Then he told me / I'm standing all alone
The imaginary rabbit friend indicates to the singer that they feel isolated and alone.
There's a crowd of people eating at my throne
The imaginary rabbit friend feels like they are being ignored and replaced by other things that are deemed more important.
Is it just me / is it just you / Or is it everyone
The artist wonders if the isolation and feeling of being ignored is a shared experience among everyone, or if it's just them and the imaginary rabbit friend.
I want the ordinary life / When the sky is dark I feel like it's light / I must confess / I'm the maddest hatter / Of them all
The singer desires a normal and mundane existence, where even darkness feels like light. However, they acknowledge that they might be the craziest or most unconventional person among their peers.
And it's so contrary that I know I shouldn't / Watch the rainbows circle my friend mary
The singer is aware that finding joy or beauty in uncommon places, like watching rainbows around their imaginary friend Mary, might be considered strange or peculiar.
I wish that I could fly so I can see much more / I wish that I could see things / Like the others do / If it's just me / then it's just you / I'm not the only one
The artist wishes to experience things from a different perspective, like flying, so they can understand the world better. They wonder if the inability to see things from an ordinary point of view is a shared dilemma or just their own.
I wanna be with my friend mary
The artist desires to spend time with their imaginary friend because they bring comfort and understanding.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: DON DOKKEN, JEFF PILSON, MICK BROWN, RICHARD E BEACH JR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
MetalBere
I want the ordinary life
Talking to my rabbit friend he seems so bright indeed
A conversation over tea
Then he told me / I'm standing all alone
There's a crowd of people eating at my throne
Is it just me / is it just you
Or is it everyone
I want the ordinary life
When the sky is dark I feel like it's light
I want the ordinary life
I must confess / I'm the Maddest Hatter
Of them all
And it's so contrary that I know I shouldn't
Watch the rainbows circle my friend Mary
I wish that I could fly so I can see much more
I wish that I could see things
Like the others do
If it's just me / then it's just you
I'm not the only one
I want the ordinary life
When the sky is dark I feel like it's light
I want the ordinary life
I must confess / I'm the Maddest Hatter
Of them all
I want the ordinary
I wanna be with my friend Mary
I want the ordinary life
When the sky is dark I feel like it's light
I want the ordinary life
I must confess / I'm the Maddest Hatter
Of them all
I want the ordinary life
When the sky is dark I feel like it's light
I want the ordinary life
I must confess / I'm the Maddest Hatter
Of them all
Patty Steinbock Harrington
INSANELY BRILLIANT CHORUS &
EXTREMELY BRILLIANT LYRICS
jeff kaluga
I was playing some Dokken live..This song jumped out at me..Never heard it before..Talk about a radio friendly song...Wow..Epic hook and chorus..
Patty Steinbock Harrington
THIS ENTIRE ALBUM REALLY REALLY ROXX ME TO MY CORE!!
☆EVEN THOUGH GEORGE LYNCH IS MY *FAVOURITE GUITARIST*~
REB BEACH KILLS IT WITH HIS INCREDIBLE GUITAR WORK!!☆
Spartan Squid
@Skooby_doobie_Doonkann33 I doubt it's because Don was an asshole, literally no one has stated that Jeff wasn't here because of Don. And Levin has replaced Lynch better than Lynch could currently replace Lynch.
Skooby_doobie_Doonkann33
Patty Steinbock Harrington reb beach is the only guitarist who could have come in and played the original hits from the 80s that Dokken had and made it sound like Lynch. In fact, he studied George for 2 years day in and day out to get his tone but George is a way better melodic guitarist than beach. This was a decent record if only Don wasnt such an asshole and could have kept Jeff Pilson and reb in the band. Reb beach was obviously able to give them a great sound while not replacing lynch as that would be impossible
Stingsabres
Unbelievable album all together!! Great song!
david smith
i love this DOKKEN album. Reb Beach on guitar. i saw them in Orange County on this tour. They were so damn good. I would have loved a 2nd album from this line up.
Warsuron
that riff is epic
Nick Gonzalez
Bad ass!! Still rockin ' 21 years later
Jeff Hindz
Killer album. Have a listen to" One" on the album!!!