Why was knocking on heavens door written

There are several versions of the song. One rendition was influenced by Sam Peckinpah, who desired an instrumental track, which Dylan agrees with. Another version had vocal tracks added to it, a sung and orchestrated version was created for the movie soundtrack and lastly, a different version was used for a single.

I bought Lana Turner's old house and I'm not sure where he lived, but he had a house just across the road there and he would come over and pick up my guitar and work on songs and stuff. They were working on the movie with Jason Robards late one night, and for some reason [Dylan] just called me up and asked me to come over to the studio and to play on the song, and I played bass on it.

Although the bass playing was credited to Terry Paul, Booker T. The Sherriff and his wife are shown by a riverside, preparing themselves for his death, which was not shown onscreen.

But, whether they are literal or metaphoric, it seems like the emotions of a man who may have regretted taking human life in the name of the law-or similar relationship-expressing remorse not only to himself- but to a higher power - he subscribes to This song is really part of a list of songs that Dylan has wrote about the mortality of the Human life.

Most people when they are at death's door, have a subconscious " seeing their life pass before their eyes" and wonder am I going to Heaven or Hell? While this song is tied to a Great Movie, it just as well could have been released 5 years before or after the Movie and still have had the success it has garnered over the years. Almost as far back as the early 60s Bob has dealt with death and the afterlife in many of his songs including but not limited to Masters of War.

When the ship comes in, and more recently It's not dark yet and Trying to get to Heaven. All his songs affect different people in many different ways. That's why he's Bob Dylan and we're not, he has a unique talent for seeing and writing about what is in people's mind at one time or another.

He has the gift of writing songs that everyone can say, That Reminds Me of When The "badge" as others have commented, may not be literal, but metaphoric Knocking on Heavens door It is what a addict does everytime the needle goes in and the plunger gets pushed Login Register Login with Facebook.

All lyrics are property and copyright of their owners. All lyrics provided for educational purposes only. What does Knockin' On Heaven's Door mean? Login Create Account. Tagged: Death Heaven Religious Themes [suggest]. Mama, take this badge off of me I can't use it anymore.

It's gettin' dark, too dark for me to see I feel like I'm knockin' on heaven's door. Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door Knock, knock, Copacetic62 1 2 3 4 5. This interpretation has been marked as poor. Submit Your Interpretation. Your phone number:. Song name. Your interpretation. Email me when new interpretations are posted for Knockin' On Heaven's Door. Your email address. Bob Dylan Song Meanings. Get a weekly email update We won't give out your email.

Blog Post of a Thin Man. All Grammy, No Oscar - Five songs from films where the song was a bigger succ Randy Crawford. Below is a more upbeat version of the often melancholy song. It is a version beautiful enough to temporarily forget the somber meaning of the lyrics.

And althought it is slightly different from the original version, the lyrics still describes the sentiments of a man who is ready to pass on to the next world. Report this comment. Your email address will not be published. Credit: Poetical Me.