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.
Sky Beneath My Feet
Dokken Lyrics
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We look into the world -- find no peace
Once -- it seemed serene
We'd be forever young and so it seemed
What does it mean -- I find no answers
Kept in a dream -- soft colored layers
I see myself through the looking glass
A shade of black
No ups or downs
Just in betweens
The gentle rain begins to fall
Come with me and see it all
Rise above the world upon my wings
I was sleeping with the
Sky beneath my feet
Now I drift endless and free
With the wind that carries me
What does it mean -- what does it matter
Kept in a dream with soft colored layers
The gentle rain begins to fall
Come with me and see it all
Rise above the world
Upon my wings
I was sleeping with the
Sky beneath my feet
The lyrics to Dokken's song "Sky Beneath My Feet" seem to touch upon the feeling of incompleteness and the lack of inner peace that people experience. The song opens with a sense of disillusionment, as the singer acknowledges that despite searching for answers, he finds none. The world used to seem serene, and youth seemed endless, but that feeling has faded. The singer sees himself as being stuck in a dream-like state, unable to fully engage with the world around him.
The chorus of the song is hopeful, however, as the singer describes rising above the turmoil of the world on his wings, and sleeping with the sky beneath his feet. There is a sense of freedom and weightlessness that he experiences as he drifts with the wind, leaving behind the worries and troubles of the world. The gentle rain that falls seems to cleanse away the negativity that plagues him, allowing him to view the world anew.
Overall, the lyrics to "Sky Beneath My Feet" seem to convey a feeling of longing for freedom and peace from the burdens of daily life. The song suggests that in order to find peace, one must be willing to let go and rise above the chaos of the world.
Line by Line Meaning
So -- so incomplete
I feel incomplete and unsatisfied
We look into the world -- find no peace
Despite trying to search for peace and happiness in the world, we are unable to find it
Once -- it seemed serene
There was a time when everything felt calm and peaceful
We'd be forever young and so it seemed
It felt like we would never grow old or face the difficulties of life
What does it mean -- I find no answers
I am unable to find meaning or answers to life's questions
Kept in a dream -- soft colored layers
I feel like I am stuck in a dreamlike state, with soft and comforting layers shielding me from reality
I see myself through the looking glass
I am reflecting on myself and my life
A shade of gray
My life seems dull and colorless
A shade of black
My life seems dark and bleak
No ups or downs
My life lacks any exciting or low moments
Just in betweens
My life is mundane and uneventful, just somewhere in the middle
The gentle rain begins to fall
The calm and peaceful rain begins to fall around me
Come with me and see it all
Join me and experience everything with me
Rise above the world upon my wings
I want to escape the world and all its troubles, and fly high above it all
I was sleeping with the Sky beneath my feet
I was in a state of bliss and serenity, feeling like the sky was beneath me
Now I drift endless and free
I feel like I am floating aimlessly with no direction or purpose
With the wind that carries me
I am being guided by the wind and going wherever it takes me
What does it mean -- what does it matter
I am questioning whether anything really matters or has any significance
Kept in a dream with soft colored layers
I continue to feel like I am stuck in a comfortable dreamlike state, ignoring reality
The gentle rain begins to fall
The rain continues to fall in a soothing and calming manner
Come with me and see it all
Once again, I invite you to come with me and experience everything with me
Rise above the world
I want to escape from the world and its problems once again
Upon my wings
I want to fly high and free like a bird
I was sleeping with the Sky beneath my feet
I want to go back to that state of serenity and bliss where everything felt perfect
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DON DOKKEN, GEORGE LYNCH, JEFF PILSON, MICK BROWN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind