About the song
“Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door,” a poignant ballad by Bob Dylan, emerged as a timeless classic tied to the 1973 film *Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid*. Penned specifically for the film’s soundtrack, the song was released as a single shortly after the movie’s debut and swiftly ascended to global acclaim, securing spots in the Top 10 charts across multiple countries. Beyond its initial success, “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” has become one of Dylan’s most revered compositions of the post-1960s era, inspiring countless cover versions by artists ranging from Eric Clapton and Guns N’ Roses to Randy Crawford.
Dylan’s biographer, Clinton Heylin, aptly characterizes the song as “an exercise in splendid simplicity.” True to this description, the song consists of two succinct verses that poetically narrate a scene from the film—a frontier lawman’s poignant farewell as he faces his mortality and refers tenderly to his wife as “Mama.”
Critically acclaimed and widely recognized, “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” has left an indelible mark on music history. Rolling Stone magazine, in both 2004 and 2010, honored the song by ranking it among their 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, affirming its enduring significance and emotional resonance.
The song’s enduring popularity and universal appeal can be attributed not only to Dylan’s masterful songwriting but also to its evocative themes of mortality, farewell, and transcendence. Its simple yet profound lyrics, coupled with Dylan’s distinctive vocal delivery and acoustic guitar accompaniment, create a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that resonates deeply with listeners.
In conclusion, “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” stands as a testament to Bob Dylan’s ability to distill complex emotions into lyrical simplicity, capturing moments of profound human experience that transcend time and circumstance. Its impact continues to be felt through its widespread influence on music and its enduring place in the hearts of fans worldwide.
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