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.
Til the Livin' End
Dokken Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's too late to walk out the door
Last time, last time you left broken hearted
Only to come back for more
I'm not with you for love
You'll be back on your knees again
When will it ever end
Til the livin' end
You know I can't wait
Can't wait, til the livin' end
It was you that wanted affection
It was you and all of your lies
This time, this time I'm changing direction
Changing the look in your eyes
I'm not with you for love
You'll be back on your knees again
Til the livin' end
When will it ever end
Til the livin' end
You know I can't wait
Can't wait, til the livin' end
Got no hope for the future
When you live in the past
Not gonna wait for tomorrow
Can't wait, til the livin' end
Til the livin' end
When will it ever end
Til the livin' end
You know I can't wait
Can't wait, til the livin' end
Can't wait, til the livin' end
Can't wait, til the livin' end
Can't wait, til the livin' end
In Dokken's song Til the Livin' End, the singer is addressing someone who has hurt them and is now trying to come back. The singer is claiming that it's too late for apologies, and that the other person will be back on their knees again, indicating that they have done this before. The singer is not with the other person for love, indicating that their relationship is not based on genuine affection. The repetition of the phrase "til the livin' end" emphasizes the singer's determination to end the cycle of hurt and betrayal.
The second verse reveals that the other person has been lying and seeking affection, while the singer is changing direction, which suggests they're moving on from this person's manipulation. The chorus repeats that the singer can't wait for this hurtful cycle to end, and that they have no hope for a future with this person. The repetition of "can't wait" portrays the singer's eagerness for closure and the end of their unhappy relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
It's too late to tell me you're sorry
Apologizing now is useless and won't fix anything
It's too late to walk out the door
Leaving won't solve the problems we have now
Last time, last time you left broken hearted
You left me before, only to come back and hurt me again
Only to come back for more
Even though you know you hurt me, you keep coming back for more
I'm not with you for love
Our relationship isn't based on love
You'll be back on your knees again
You'll be begging for another chance again
Til the livin' end
Our relationship will go on until we die
When will it ever end
Wondering when this cycle of hurt will stop
You know I can't wait
I'm looking forward to the end of this relationship
Can't wait, til the livin' end
I can't wait for our relationship to end
It was you that wanted affection
You were the one who wanted love and attention
It was you and all of your lies
You were the one who lied to me
This time, this time I'm changing direction
I'm changing the way I approach our relationship
Changing the look in your eyes
I want to change the way you see me and our relationship
Got no hope for the future
I have no optimism for our future
When you live in the past
We can't move forward as a couple if you keep dwelling on the past
Not gonna wait for tomorrow
I'm not going to wait any longer for things to change
Lyrics Β© Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DON DOKKEN, GEORGE LYNCH, JEFF PILSON, MICK BROWN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@echevarria4194
It's too late to tell me you're sorry
It's too late to walk out the door
Last time, last time you left broken hearted
Only to come back for more
I'm not with you for love
You'll be back on your knees again
Til the livin' end
When will it ever end
Til the livin' end
You know I can't wait
Can't wait, til the livin' end
It was you that wanted affection
It was you and all of your lies
This time, this time I'm changing direction
Changing the look in your eyes
I'm not with you for love
You'll be back on your knees again
Til the livin' end
When will it ever end
Til the livin' end
You know I can't wait
Can't wait, til the livin' end
Got no hope for the future
When you live in the past
Not gonna wait for tomorrow
Can't wait, til the livin' end
Til the livin' end
When will it ever end
Til the livin' end
You know I can't wait
Can't wait, til the livin' end
Can't wait, til the livin' end
Can't wait, til the livin' end
Can't wait, til the livin' end
@geoffreybennett86
Man the guitar work on this album is just bonkers great. What a tone Lynch had on this release.
@angusorvid8840
One of George's best tones. Also Back For The Attack has incredible George tones.
@godzillasimpson8357
Tooth and nail is his best one.
@reinermaurer892
Dokken, one of the bands with the most musician changes ever.... But Don Dokken, George Lynch, Jeff Pilson & Wild Mick Brown together had the highest potential and "Tooth and Nail" & "Under Lock and Key" are albums that are in every honest rock collection belong. Milestones of 1980s "hairy metal"
@mr.z541
George is BLISTERING on this one...daaaaaammmnn!
@scott9294
As always
@godzillasimpson8357
Wait till you hear Donβt close your eyes on Georgeβs best album
@codywatts7625
π§π€πΈ
@tox1017
Love the solo on this...
@dennispayne3739
One of Dokkens finest!