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.
What Price
Dokken Lyrics
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Picture yourself in a river drowning inside your heart
Finding there is no tomorrow only this place that you are
That you are alone in your darkness let your spirit go
When judgement comes it'll lay by the side of the road
By the road
Think' bout the past I only see my broken youth
Locked inside a world where only liars seem to live
Not a chance for happiness
His mother's checkered past
Psychologically induced by all the things he'd seen
What the hell is going on inside
Chorus
Thou shall not give unto life without love
What price for life
For ye shall open the scar of the wound
What price for truth
Thou shall not take from the weaker mankind
What price for youth
Fate begets sorrow the trail of doom
I can see the visions it's emitting from you mind
Dig another grave so I can bury you alive
You're a poison ocean that's been running through the rye
What the hell is going on inside
What price for life
What price for truth
What price for youth
Chorus
Schizophrenic symptoms of a problem in your past
Handed down to newborn generations to be cast
Take your friend's emotions and dissolve it with a lie
Put your plague to rest when you fall down and fucking die
And the mother cried
And the child cried
And the father replied
I guess I went to far
I guess I went to far
I guess I went to far
Then he heard a voice and it said
"now it's time to go, your soul is getting cold
I'm gonna leave your spirit dead by the side of the road"
Still the child cried on and on
The lyrics to Dokken's "What Price" convey themes of despair, loneliness, and self-destruction. The opening lines depict a heart-wrenching image of a drowning person struggling to find a way out of their inner turmoil. The lyrics then take a turn to reflect on the past, which holds only broken memories, locked in a world where only falsehoods seem to exist. The suppressed emotions of the singer are a result of his mother's association with a questionable past, which has perhaps induced psychological problems. The lyrics are a commentary on the price of life, truth, and youth, which is often too heavy to bear.
The chorus is focused on the commandments that one must adhere to, in order to lead a fulfilling life. The quote "Thou shall not give unto life without love" emphasizes the importance of love in life. The lines "For ye shall open the scar of the wound" highlights the need for honesty, "Thou shall not take from the weaker mankind" seems to suggest compassion for the weak, and "Fate begets sorrow the trail of doom" probably relates to one's destiny in life. The final lines are a reflection of the singer's pain, as he witnesses the mother, father and child crying, unable to comprehend the situation.
In conclusion, the lyrics of "What Price" by Dokken are a moving reflection of inner turmoil, self-destruction, and the struggle to find a way out of a life that seems all-consuming in its intensity. The lyrics caution us to adhere to moral codes of conduct if one wants to achieve true fulfillment in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Picture yourself in a river drowning inside your heart
Imagine being lost in your own thoughts and emotions, with no escape
Finding there is no tomorrow only this place that you are
Realizing that there is no future, only the moment you are currently in
That you are alone in your darkness let your spirit go
Feeling isolated and unnoticed, wanting to give up and let go of hope
When judgement comes it'll lay by the side of the road
When it's all over, you'll be left behind, forgotten and unimportant
Leaving all the worlds behind it seems so vain to me
Abandoning all the things you thought mattered, realizing their lack of significance
Think' bout the past I only see my broken youth
Reflecting on past mistakes and regrets, particularly in regards to one's younger years
Locked inside a world where only liars seem to live
Feeling trapped in a society full of dishonesty and fakeness
Not a chance for happiness
Feeling like there is no hope for finding joy or contentment
Thou shall not give unto life without love
You shouldn't live without caring for anything or anyone
What price for life
What does it cost to exist in a world that can be so painful and cruel?
For ye shall open the scar of the wound
You will inevitably face your own pain and trauma
Thou shall not take from the weaker mankind
Don't harm those who are vulnerable and powerless
What price for youth
What does it cost to be young and vulnerable in a world that doesn't care?
Fate begets sorrow the trail of doom
Destiny seems to lead only to misery and despair
I can see the visions it's emitting from you mind
I can see inside your thoughts and see your fears and troubles
Dig another grave so I can bury you alive
Wishing harm on someone who may have hurt you
You're a poison ocean that's been running through the rye
You are a harmful force that is infecting and spreading throughout your surroundings
Schizophrenic symptoms of a problem in your past
Experiencing mental illness and turmoil brought on by traumatic experiences
Handed down to newborn generations to be cast
The pain and struggles of previous generations are passed on to their children
Take your friend's emotions and dissolve it with a lie
Harming someone you care about through deception and dishonesty
Put your plague to rest when you fall down and fucking die
Ending the harm you cause to others by dying yourself
And the mother cried
The pain and sorrow of the mother is evident and overwhelming
And the child cried
The trauma and pain of the child is heartbreaking and difficult to bear
And the father replied
The father's responses and actions fueled and worsened the situation
I guess I went to far
Realizing the consequences of one's actions and recognizing their severity
Then he heard a voice and it said
"now it's time to go, your soul is getting cold
I'm gonna leave your spirit dead by the side of the road"
A sinister voice or dark thoughts consume the person, leading them towards death and despair
Still the child cried on and on
The pain and suffering continues, with no end in sight
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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