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.
Release Me
Dokken Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My indecision put me in this hole
Deep down walking with the dead
No resurrection it's too late
Release me give me wings again
Release me let me live again
Release me let me fly again
I can rise again
Release me
Shadows wrapped around my soul
Taken all my feelings
Now they're left out in the cold
So high that mountain I must climb
I hope I make it while there's time
Release me give me wings again
Release me let me live again
Release me let me fly again
Releases me so I can rise again
I can rise again
Release me
There's no more wishin' wells or fairy tales
Those days are over now
And in the dark where there's no light
It's hard to fight what you can't see
Release me give me wings again
Release me let me live again
Release me let me fly again
Releases me so I can rise again
I can rise again
Release me
How did I get to this place
My insurrection put me in this hole
Deep down walking with the dead
No resurrection it's too late
Release me give me wings again
Release me let me live again
Release me let me fly again
Releases me so I can rise again
I can rise again
Release me
The lyrics of Dokken's song Release Me delve into themes of regret, disappointment, and the desire for a new beginning. The song appears to be about someone who feels lost and trapped in their current situation, realizing that their indecision has led them to a dark and lonely place. The line, "Deep down walking with the dead, no resurrection it's too late," suggests a sense of hopelessness and the feeling that it's too late to change things, but the chorus offers a glimmer of hope. The repetition of "Release me" and the imagery of wings and flying suggest a desperate desire to be set free and given the chance to start anew.
The second verse continues with the imagery of shadows and feeling lost, but this time there's a sense of urgency. The line, "I hope I make it while there's time," conveys a fear of running out of time to make things right. The bridge of the song acknowledges that life isn't always easy and that sometimes it's hard to fight when you can't see the light. However, the chorus is repeated one final time, and the song ends on a hopeful note with the line, "I can rise again, release me."
Some possible interpretations of the lyrics could be a relationship that turned out to be toxic, addiction, or just a general feeling of being stuck and unable to move forward in life. Whatever the specific circumstances, the sentiment of wanting to be released from a negative situation and given a fresh start is universal and relatable.
Line by Line Meaning
How did I get to this place
I am reflecting on how I ended up in this situation
My indecision put me in this hole
My inability to make decisions has led me to this difficult situation
Deep down walking with the dead
I feel as though I am lifeless and my spirit is dead on the inside
No resurrection it's too late
I cannot revive or bring myself back to life, it's too late for that
Release me give me wings again
I am asking someone or something to free me from my current state
Release me let me live again
Please let me experience life and all it has to offer again
Release me let me fly again
Allow me to feel free and soar like I used to
Releases me so I can rise again
By being released, I can pick myself up and become strong once more
I can rise again
I have the strength within me to overcome and become better
Shadows wrapped around my soul
Darkness has surrounded my spirit and soul
Taken all my feelings
The darkness has consumed my emotions and left me feeling empty
Now they're left out in the cold
My emotions have been neglected and abandoned
So high that mountain I must climb
The journey to rebuild myself will not be easy, it will be like climbing a tall mountain
I hope I make it while there's time
I am aware that time is limited and I hope to reach clarity and happiness before it's too late
There's no more wishin' wells or fairy tales
I have come to the realization that I cannot wish my way out of my problems or believe in unrealistic stories anymore
Those days are over now
I must face my reality with bravery and determination from this point forward
And in the dark where there's no light
I am struggling in a difficult and uncertain situation where there seems to be no hope or positivity
It's hard to fight what you can't see
It is a challenge to fight against something that you cannot understand or cannot clearly define
My insurrection put me in this hole
My inability to resist temptation or negative influences has led me down a path of destruction
Contributed by Addison P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.