When Heaven Comes Down

Album: Tooth and Nail (1984)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Dokken guitarist George Lynch wrote this song with the group's bass player Jeff Pilson and drummer Mick Brown. The song finds lead singer Don Dokken awaiting the rapture, and poking a little fun at the concept of an apocalypse where only people of a certain faith are left standing.

    Despite his views on this particular religion, Lynch teamed up with the Christian rocker Michael Sweet (from Stryper) in 2014 to form a band called Sweet & Lynch. The two were able to look past their spiritual differences as they had a mutual respect for each other.
  • This song came to life at Lynch's house, where he had a little area he used as a studio. He and Pilson hashed out the song one night, and when Pilson left, Lynch worked through the night on the track. In our interview with Lynch, he told the story: "I had a melody in my head for the chorus. So I got my s--tty little plastic mic and plugged it into an Octavider and some echo, into a Fostex 4-track cassette recorder, and I recorded it.

    The sun was coming up, and I was singing really low, because I didn't have a lot of range. I'm a lousy singer, and I put all these effects on there - I put an Octavider and delay. I basically put all my effects on the mic! I wish I still had that recording."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)Songwriter Interviews

Before "Rap" was a form of music, it was something guys did to pick up girls in nightclubs. Donnie talks about "The Rapper" and reveals the identity of Leah.

Bass Player Scott Edwards

Bass Player Scott EdwardsSong Writing

Scott was Stevie Wonder's bass player before becoming a top session player. Hits he played on include "I Will Survive," "Being With You" and "Sara Smile."

Chris Fehn of Slipknot

Chris Fehn of SlipknotSongwriter Interviews

A drummer for one of the most successful metal bands of the last decade, Chris talks about what it's like writing and performing with Slipknot. Metal-neck is a factor.

Carol Kaye

Carol KayeSongwriter Interviews

A top session musician, Carol played on hundreds of hits by The Beach Boys, The Monkees, Frank Sinatra and many others.

James Bond Theme Songs

James Bond Theme SongsMusic Quiz

How well do you know the 007 theme songs?

Annie Haslam of Renaissance

Annie Haslam of RenaissanceSongwriter Interviews

The 5-octave voice of the classical rock band Renaissance, Annie is big on creative expression. In this talk, she covers Roy Wood, the history of the band, and where all the money went in the '70s.