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.
Too High To Fly
Dokken Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pretty soon we'll sell our brothers
We took the gold, but the gold was water
I tried to save the world, but I failed her
She cries the tears that I never left her
I left them all behind
You were sitting in your darkest hour
We tried to make the world so much better
We send our words in a pretty perfumed letter
You sit alone in your ivory towers
I'm just one person, I don't matter
You tap the needle, and you went to heaven
You left it all behind
Now you're feeling oh so better
[Chorus]
Too high to fly
You should've seen me there (Yeah)
Too high to fly, my baby
But you were almost there
The sun shines down on my face
But you don't feel a thing (no, no, no)
The lines on the street, and the some rises
You looked too long for heaven, now you're blinded, baby
Another morning sun
Another day gone by
The storm's coming
With the pouring rain
[Chorus]
The storm comes with the pouring rain (Salvation)
The lines in the street, and the smoke rises
Wanderin' round for forty days, hope you find it
[Chorus]
The lyrics of Dokken's song Too High To Fly depict the bleak reality of selling out one's own people and the world for the sake of personal gain. The opening line, "We sold our sons and we sold our daughters, pretty soon we'll sell our brothers" immediately sets the tone for what is to come. The following line, "We took the gold, but the gold was water," suggests that the riches they thought they would gain from their actions turned out to be empty and unfulfilling. The lyrics also convey a sense of regret and failure as the singer admits, "I tried to save the world, but I failed her," and "I'm just one person, I don't matter."
The theme of personal struggles continues in the next verse, where the singer talks about leaving behind tears that they never faced and experiencing their "darkest hour." The reference to "ivory towers" suggests a disconnect between those in power and the people they are supposed to serve. The line "You tap the needle and you went to heaven" is a reference to drug use, which is often used as an escape from reality. The chorus, "Too high to fly, you should've seen me there / Too high to fly, my baby, but you were almost there," repeats the idea of reaching for something unattainable, but almost within grasp.
One potential interpretation of the lyrics is that they are a commentary on the state of society or the music industry at the time the song was written. However, the themes of greed, regret, and personal struggles are timeless and could be applied to any situation where individuals or groups make choices that harm others in pursuit of their goals.
Line by Line Meaning
We sold our sons and we sold our daughters
We betrayed and sacrificed our own children for our greed
Pretty soon we'll sell our brothers
We have become so immoral that we are willing to sell even our siblings
We took the gold, but the gold was water
We pursued wealth without realizing that it was worthless and fleeting
I tried to save the world, but I failed her
I wanted to make the world a better place, but I couldn't help my loved one when she needed me the most
She cries the tears that I never left her
She is suffering because of my absence and neglect
I left them all behind
I abandoned everyone who needed me and left them to their fate
You were sitting in your darkest hour
You were going through a tough time and felt lost and alone
Summer's gone
The good times are over and something bad has replaced them
We tried to make the world so much better
We wanted to bring positive change in the world and society
We send our words in a pretty perfumed letter
We expressed ourselves eloquently and tastefully, but failed to act on our words
You sit alone in your ivory towers
You are isolated and disconnected from the problems of common people
I'm just one person, I don't matter
I feel insignificant and incapable of making a difference
You tap the needle, and you went to heaven
You found temporary relief from your problems by using drugs
Now you're feeling oh so better
You think drugs have solved your problems, but they have only made them worse
Too high to fly
You are too intoxicated and delusional to realize the truth
You should've seen me there (Yeah)
You would have been amazed by my condition if you had seen me in that state
But you were almost there
You were close to realizing the truth, but you faltered
The sun shines down on my face
Despite everything, life goes on and nature continues to exist
But you don't feel a thing (no, no, no)
You are so numb and disconnected that you can't appreciate the beauty of life
You looked too long for heaven, now you're blinded, baby
You pursued an idealized version of happiness for so long that you lost sight of the reality
Another morning sun
Another day has begun
Another day gone by
Another day is over and the time is running out
The storm's coming
Trouble is brewing and difficult times are ahead
With the pouring rain
The storm will bring torrents of pain and misery
The storm comes with the pouring rain (Salvation)
The storm will bring destruction and judgment, but it might also bring redemption and deliverance
The lines in the street, and the smoke rises
The urban landscape is marked with inequality, poverty, and pollution
Wanderin' round for forty days, hope you find it
Like Moses in the wilderness, we are searching for guidance and meaning in life
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: GEORGE LYNCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind