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.
Slippin
Dokken Lyrics
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Gone forever, seems you were right
Long ago, thought it was real
Should've believed love's not forever
I'm slippin' away
Can't seem to hold on
I'm slippin' away
Gentle one, so soft and warm
I tried to touch you, I meant you no harm
I'm slippin' away
Can't seem to hold on
I'm slippin' away
Darkness comes, so cold
I'm slippin' away
Can't seem to hold one
Save me
Save me
Save me
Like a whisper, you came in the night
Gone forever, seems you were right
Long ago, I thought it was real
I should've believed that love's not forever
I'm slippin' away
Can't seem to hold on
I'm slippin' away
I just can't hold on
I'm slippin' away
Darkness comes, so cold
I'm slippin' away
Now that you're gone
The lyrics to Dokken's "Slippin' Away" describe the feeling of losing someone, possibly a lover or someone close, and the struggle to hold onto them despite feeling like they are slipping away. The singer reflects on a past love and the realization that it may not have been as stable or lasting as he believed it to be. He describes the person leaving like a whisper in the night and the darkness that comes with their absence. He acknowledges their gentleness and warmth but feels unable to reach out to them. The repeated plea of "Save me" suggests a desperation to hold onto what is slipping away.
The song captures the raw emotion of loss and the difficulty of accepting that some things may not be meant to last. The lyrics evoke a sense of melancholy and longing, with the repetition of the phrase "I'm slippin' away" emphasizing the singer's sense of helplessness. The song ultimately suggests that the pain of losing someone may be inevitable, but it doesn't make it any easier to bear.
Line by Line Meaning
Like a whisper, you came in the night
You appeared silently and unexpectedly
Gone forever, seems you were right
You left me, and it seems that you were correct in doing so
Long ago, thought it was real
I believed our love was real a long time ago
Should've believed love's not forever
I should have realized that love doesn't last forever
I'm slippin' away
I am losing my grip on reality
Can't seem to hold on
I cannot keep myself from falling apart
Darkness comes, so cold
My emotions are growing dim and cold
Gentle one, so soft and warm
You were kind and comforting
I tried to touch you, I meant you no harm
I wanted to feel your presence, but did not mean to hurt you
Save me
I need help
Now that you're gone
I am alone without you
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CAMUS CELLI, ANDRES LEVIN, ANDREA MONICA MARTIN, IVAN MATIAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind