About the song
Bob Dylan, the bard of American folk, has penned countless songs that have resonated with audiences for generations. Among his most enduring compositions is “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door,” a haunting ballad that has become a staple of rock and roll.
Originally written for the soundtrack of the 1973 Western film “Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid,” “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” captures the raw emotion and impending doom that permeates the film. With its repetitive chorus and simple, yet powerful lyrics, the song serves as a poignant meditation on mortality and the inevitability of death.
The song’s success can be attributed to its universal themes and Dylan’s distinctive vocals. “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” has been covered by countless artists, from Eric Clapton and Guns N’ Roses to Randy Crawford, each adding their own unique interpretation to the song. This widespread appeal is a testament to the song’s enduring power and its ability to connect with listeners on a deep emotional level.
Despite its simplicity, “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” is a complex and layered composition. The song’s sparse arrangement, featuring Dylan’s acoustic guitar and harmonica, creates a haunting atmosphere that draws the listener in. The lyrics, which are both direct and evocative, paint a vivid picture of a man facing his own mortality.
Dylan’s biographer, Clinton Heylin, has described the song as “an exercise in sublime simplicity.” This assessment is spot on, as the song’s beauty lies in its economy of expression. With just a few lines, Dylan has created a timeless masterpiece that continues to resonate with audiences today.
Ranked highly on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” is undoubtedly one of Dylan’s most iconic compositions. It is a song that has transcended its origins in a Western film to become a universal anthem about life, death, and the human condition.
Video
Lyrics
Mama take this badge from me
I can’t use it anymore
It’s getting dark too dark to see
Feels like I’m knockin’ on Heaven’s door
Knock-knock-knockin’ on Heaven’s door
Knock-knock-knockin’ on Heaven’s door
Knock-knock-knockin’ on Heaven’s door
Knock-knock-knockin’ on Heaven’s door
Mama put my guns in the ground
I can’t shoot them anymore
That cold black cloud is comin’ down
Feels like I’m knockin’ on Heaven’s door
Knock-knock-knockin’ on Heaven’s door
Knock-knock-knockin’ on Heaven’s door
Knock-knock-knockin’ on Heaven’s door
Knock-knock-knockin’ on Heaven’s door
“You just better start sniffin’ your own rank subjugation jack
‘Cause it’s just you against your tattered libido
The bank and the mortician, forever man
And it wouldn’t be luck if you could get out of life alive”
Knock-knock-knockin’ on Heaven’s door
(Knock-knock-knockin’ on Heaven’s door)
Knock-knock-knockin’ on Heaven’s door
(Knock-knock-knockin’ on Heaven’s door)
Knock-knock-knockin’ on Heaven’s door
(Knock-knock-knockin’ on Heaven’s door)
Knock-knock-knockin’ on Heaven’s door
(Knock-knock-knockin’ on Heaven’s door)
Knock-knock-knockin’ on Heaven’s door
Knock-knock-knockin’ on Heaven’s door
Knock-knock-knockin’ on Heaven’s door
Knock-knock-knockin’ on Heaven’s door