"Knockin' on Heaven's Door" is a song written and sung by Bob Dylan, for the soundtrack of the 1973 film Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid. Released as a single, it reached #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. Described by Dylan biographer Clinton Heylin as "an exercise in splendid simplicity," the song, measured simply in terms of the number of other artists who have covered it, is one of Dylan's most popular post-1960s compositions.
Members of the Western Writers of America chose it as one of the Top 100 Western songs of all time.
The song describes the collapse of a deputy sheriff; dying from a bullet wound, he tells his wife "Mama, take this badge off of me; I can't use it anymore." The song consists of four chords in the key of G major: G, D, Am7, and C. The basic pattern throughout the song is G-D-Am7-Am7 and then G-D-C-C, and this is repeated. Over the years, Dylan has changed the lyrics, as have others who have performed this song.
Coordinates: 52°47′38″N 2°59′35″W / 52.794°N 2.993°W
Knockin is a village and civil parish lying on the B4396 some 8 km south-east of the town of Oswestry in north-west Shropshire, England.
The former name of Knockin was Cnukyn. The village comprises mainly historic detached buildings in a rural setting. Much of Knockin was owned by the Earl of Bradford until it was sold off in lots to meet other financial demands. The Earl still owns the cricket pitch and other small pockets of land in the area. The local public house is called the Bradford Arms and displays the Bradford family coat of arms. The pub also has a clock with three faces, hung outside above the main entrance. The motto displayed on the sign is that of the Bridgeman family Earls of Bradford "Nec temere nec timide" (Neither rashly nor timidly).
All that remains of Knockin Castle today is a large tree-covered mound of earth. The castle was of a motte and bailey design and was constructed between 1154-1160 under the authority of Guy le Strange. Ownership remained with the family for much of the Middle Ages but by 1540 it was described as "ruinous". Like most Shropshire castles which are now only marked by grassy sites, its stones live on in a number of buildings in the area.
Lord take this badge off of me
I can't use it anymore
It's getting dark
Too dark to see
I feel like I'm knocking on heaven's door
Chorus:
Knock knock knockin' on heaven's door
I feel like I'm knocking on heaven's door
Knock knock knockin' on heaven's door
Knockin' on heaven's door
Knock knock knockin' on heaven's door
Lord takes these guns away from me
Cause I can't shoot them anymore
A long black cloud is followin' me
I feel like I'm knockin' on heaven's
Repeat Chorus
Ooo ooo ooo Heaven Heaven
Ooo ooo ooo Heaven Heaven
Ooo ooo ooo Heaven Heaven
Ooo ooo ooo Heaven Heaven
Lord take this badge off of me
Cause I can't use it anymore
It's getting dark
Too dark to see
I feel like I'm knockin on heaven's door
Oooahhhhooo