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.
Voice of the Soul
Dokken Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can you see the darkness that was left me over time
Bordering on sadness / no tranquility
Look through my mirror and you'll see
[so long] a vision come and gone
[inside] nothing was clear
Saving grace / forgotten road
I was lost / but now I'm home
When I hear a voice of the soul
Sold my religion / sold my candles too
Knees have been bleeding / praying over you
I search the heavens / all I ever see
Dust from the ashes / misery
[rise up] sleeping with misfortune
[temptation] a mirror of myself
Saving grace / forgotten road
I was lost / but now I'm home
Saving grace / a ray of hope
When I hear a voice of the soul
When the light shines above me
And casts a shadow of myself
Look to skies that surround me
Embrace the one that speaks inside
Delivered unto self
Saving grace a ray of hope
When I hear the voice [of the soul]
[voice of the soul]
Saving grace
[voice of the soul]
When I hear the voice
Hear the voice of the soul
The lyrics of Dokken's song "Voice of the Soul" explore themes of spirituality, inner turmoil, and redemption. The opening lines "Can you see the soul / through a window in your mind" reflect a search for deeper meaning and understanding of oneself. The following line "Can you see the darkness that was left me over time" hints at a past struggle, potentially a difficult experience that has left the singer feeling lost and alone. This is further explored in the line "Bordering on sadness / no tranquility".
As the song progresses, the singer talks about their experience of selling their religion and candles and praying for someone else, as reflected in the lines "Sold my religion / sold my candles too / Knees have been bleeding / praying over you". However, the singer seems to find a glimmer of hope in the midst of this turmoil. The lines "Saving grace / forgotten road / I was lost / but now I'm home / Saving grace / a ray of hope" signify a turning point for the singer, where they find comfort and guidance in something greater than themselves.
The lyrics culminate in a call to embrace one's inner voice and the light shining above. "Look to skies that surround me / Embrace the one that speaks inside" encourages the listener to seek clarity and guidance from within oneself. The final lines "Delivered unto self / Saving grace a ray of hope / When I hear the voice [of the soul] / [voice of the soul]" reinforce this idea of inner peace and salvation through the voice of the soul.
Overall, "Voice of the Soul" is a powerful exploration of spirituality and the search for inner peace.
Line by Line Meaning
Can you see the soul / through a window in your mind
Can you perceive the essence of a person by looking beyond their physical appearance?
Can you see the darkness that was left me over time
Are you aware of the pain and suffering I've experienced throughout my life?
Bordering on sadness / no tranquility
I'm on the verge of sorrow, constantly agitated and restless
Look through my mirror and you'll see
Look beyond yourself and consider my perspective
[so long] a vision come and gone
Something I once imagined is now a distant memory
[inside] nothing was clear
Internally, I was lost and unsure of myself
Saving grace / forgotten road
A source of salvation that I'd long forgotten
I was lost / but now I'm home
I was aimless and confused, but now I've found my way
Saving grace / a ray of hope
Something that offers me a glimmer of optimism in my life
When I hear a voice of the soul
When I'm truly in touch with my innermost self and what truly matters
Sold my religion / sold my candles too
I've abandoned the rituals and beliefs I once held dear
Knees have been bleeding / praying over you
I've been tirelessly praying for you, despite it taking a physical and emotional toll on me
I search the heavens / all I ever see
I've looked to the heavens for answers, but nothing seems to fulfill me
Dust from the ashes / misery
All that's left from my past struggles is a trail of destruction and sorrow
[rise up] sleeping with misfortune
I've been weighed down by misfortune and despair, but now I'm ready to take action
[temptation] a mirror of myself
What I'm tempted by reflects my own innermost desires and weaknesses
When the light shines above me
When I'm surrounded by positivity and goodness
And casts a shadow of myself
But even in moments of brightness, there's a darkness that lingers within me
Look to skies that surround me
I'm trying to look beyond myself and the limitations I've created
Embrace the one that speaks inside
I need to embrace my own inner voice and trust my own instincts
Delivered unto self
Only I have the power to determine my own fate
Saving grace a ray of hope
There's a small glimmer of hope that things will get better
When I hear the voice [of the soul]
When I'm able to truly connect with my innermost self and purpose
[voice of the soul]
The inner voice that speaks to me when I'm in tune with myself
Saving grace
The one thing that's keeping me going during difficult times
[voice of the soul]
The guiding force that helps me make decisions and stay true to myself
When I hear the voice
When I'm truly listening and open to what my inner voice is telling me
Hear the voice of the soul
Listen to what truly matters and stay true to yourself
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: DON DOKKEN, JEFF PILSON, MICK BROWN, RICHARD E BEACH JR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@toniohart7407
One of the best dokken songs I've heard.
@anz2441
Agreed, and many have no clue this song exist
@rodrigofragoso5662
Amazing album!!
@guillermobermudez4258
Que calidad Reb Beach con esos licks de Tapping por favor! Un virtuoso! Tremendo Álbum de Dokken y esta canción es brutal. La letra hace meditar a tu interior bastante!
@MrDazP1adv3ntures
What a great band. They have got better over the centuries
@anz2441
1st time i heard this I got chills. I key right on Dons vocals...absolutely amazing..classic dokken all over again.
@mgtowlite7414
One of their best songs.
Somehow, Reb Beach manages to recreate the magic that the early Georg Lynch guitar style brought to the band.
@davidwarbritton2278
Listen dude!!! This shit rocks!!!!
@Angel3243
I love Jeff Pilson's driving bass on this intro!
@yumiminfiremountain4200
I love Jeff Pilson too❤
his backing vocals great
❤❤❤👍