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.
Shattered
Dokken Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you're so in love with me / why do you stay away
Heartache / breaking down my pride
The closer that I get to you the more I hurt inside
Feeling I've been wrong about you
Try to justify
I'm feeling empty inside
I see the heartache you hide in your eyes
Shattered
Shattered / trying to get to you
Left my heart in broken pieces / haven't been so true
Leave me / in my barren world
When I try to give you all I hear the cry of love
There's no words and there's no time for
All the reasons why
I'm feeling empty inside
I see the heartache you hide in your eyes
I'm feeling empty inside
Shattered
I'm feeling empty inside
I see the heartache you hide in your eyes
I'm feeling empty inside
Shattered
Spoken word: yellow walls / I light another cigarette
Rainbow dreams crossing through my eyes
Shattered pictures in my mind
Love lost / lorn
Shattered / shattered / shattered / yeah
The song "Shattered" by Dokken is a heart-wrenching interpretation of a love that's falling apart. The lyrics speak to the feelings of isolation and loneliness that can accompany a relationship that feels unfulfilling. The singer is confused as to why they feel so alone even though their partner claims to love them. The more the singer tries to connect with their partner, the more they feel hurt and empty inside.
The lyrics also touch on the idea of false justification, where the singer is trying to make excuses for their partner's behavior in order to rationalize why they feel so unhappy. The spoken word section adds to the overall feeling of loneliness and despair, suggesting a sense of introspection and contemplation. The shattered pictures in the singer's mind imply that they are struggling to piece together the fragments of their relationship.
Overall, "Shattered" is an emotional ballad that speaks to the complexity of relationships and the pain that can come with falling out of love.
Line by Line Meaning
Lonely / why do I feel this way
Despite being with someone who claims to love me, I still feel lonely and unsure about my relationship.
If you're so in love with me / why do you stay away
Questioning their partner's love and dedication as they remain distant and absent from the relationship.
Heartache / breaking down my pride
Experiencing emotional pain and suffering that is causing them to feel vulnerable and weak.
The closer that I get to you the more I hurt inside
As they become more emotionally invested in their partner, they end up experiencing more pain and hurt within the relationship.
Feeling I've been wrong about you
Feeling that they have misjudged and misunderstood their partner's feelings and intentions.
Try to justify
Attempting to rationalize and make excuses for their partner's behavior and actions.
I'm feeling empty inside
Feeling emotionally drained and empty due to the issues in their relationship.
I see the heartache you hide in your eyes
Acknowledge the emotional pain and hurt that their partner is also experiencing, but is trying to hide.
Shattered
Feeling completely broken and destroyed by the turmoil in their relationship.
Shattered / trying to get to you
Despite feeling broken, they are still trying to reach their partner and fix their relationship.
Left my heart in broken pieces / haven't been so true
Feeling as though their heart has been shattered into pieces due to their own actions, and that they have not been entirely truthful with their partner.
Leave me / in my barren world
As their relationship continues to deteriorate, they feel abandoned and alone in their own world.
When I try to give you all I hear the cry of love
Even though they try to express their love and commitment, their partner's lack of response and affection makes them feel unloved and rejected.
There's no words and there's no time for
Feels as though there is no way to fix their broken relationship and that time is running out.
Spoken word: yellow walls / I light another cigarette
Painting a picture of their emotional state as they light another cigarette in a room surrounded by yellow walls, symbolizing their emotional emptiness and decay.
Rainbow dreams crossing through my eyes
Despite their pain, they still hold onto dreams of a better future for themselves and their relationship.
Shattered pictures in my mind
Memories and experiences from their past are now broken and cannot be fixed.
Love lost / lorn
Their relationship has become loveless and they feel abandoned and alone in their sorrow.
Shattered / shattered / shattered / yeah
Repeatedly acknowledging and emphasizing the broken state of their relationship.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, DUCHAMP, INC, CV AMERICA
Written by: DON DOKKEN, JEFF PILSON, MICK BROWN, RICHARD E BEACH JR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
joshgriffin1976
My favorite Dokken album...Rebs a beast!!
Anders A.
This greatness is what I expect from Black Swan in 2020. The riffs are infectious. Pilson and Reb in perfect harmony.
Mark Palavos Vrahotes
One problem. Don Dokken no longer sings well.
NOaverageJOE
It's a shame Reb and Jeff didn't stick around for one more. One of my favorite albums for sure.
cbond99
What a great album!
MnzGmz
DON is the coolest vocal with his style and mixes unreal power cords! Awesome...
Patty Steinbock Harrington
OH!! I CAN NOT FORGET TO MENTION THAT I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE "MADDEST HATTER" AS WELL!!
Patty Steinbock Harrington
"SHATTERED" "ERASE THE SLATE" "DROWN" "MADDEST HATTER" &~"CRAZY MARY GOES ROUND"~ARE MY MOST FAVOURITE SONGS ON THIS INCREDIBLY AMAZING ALBUM~"ERASE THE SLATE"!!
THE ENTIRE ALBUM IS WICKED AS FUCK!!
Patty Steinbock Harrington
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOMG!!
THIS INCREDIBLY AMAZING ALBUM ROXX ME TO THE CORE!! I ESPECIALLY LOVE~"SHATTERED" "ERASE THE SLATE" "DROWN"~HELL~I LOVE THIS ENTIRE ALBUM~*ERASE THE SLATE*!!
GEORGE LYNCH IS~BY FAR~MY MOST FAVOURITE GUITARIST EVER!! BUT I GOTTA SAY THAT REB BEACH IS A PHENOMENAL GUITARIST AS WELL!!
Patty Steinbock Harrington
"SHATTERED" "DROWN" "MADDEST HATTER" & "ERASE THE SLATE" ARE WICKED AS FUCK!! LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS INSANELY WICKED ALBUM!!