"Knockin' on Heaven's Door"
Single by Bob Dylan
from the album Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid
B-side"Turkey Chase"
ReleasedJuly 13, 1973
RecordedFebruary 1973
Genre
Length2:32
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Bob Dylan
Producer(s)Gordon Carroll
Bob Dylan singles chronology
"George Jackson"
(1971)		 "Knockin' on Heaven's Door"
(1973)		 "A Fool Such as I"
(1973)

"Knockin' on Heaven's Door" is a song by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, written for the soundtrack of the 1973 film Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid. Released as a single two months after the film's premiere, it became a worldwide hit, reaching the Top 10 in several countries. The song became one of Dylan's most popular and most covered post-1960s compositions, spawning covers from Eric Clapton, Guns N' Roses, Randy Crawford, and more.

Described by Dylan biographer Clinton Heylin as "an exercise in splendid simplicity",[1] the song features two short verses, the lyrics of which comment directly on the scene in the film for which it was written: the death of a frontier lawman (Slim Pickens) who refers to his wife (Katy Jurado) as "Mama".[2]

It was ranked number 190 in 2004 by Rolling Stone magazine, in their 500 Greatest Songs of All Time,[3] and number 192 in 2010.[4]

Musicians

Charts

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Italy (FIMI)[21] Platinum 70,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[22] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Other Bob Dylan versions

According to his website, Dylan has performed the song in concert 460 times between its live debut in 1974 and its last outing in 2003.[23] Some of these versions have appeared on Dylan's live and Bootleg Series albums including:

Eric Clapton and Arthur Louis versions

In January 1975 Eric Clapton played on Arthur Louis's recording of "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" which was arranged in a cross-over reggae style. After the recording sessions with Louis, Clapton recorded his own version of the song which was released as a single in August 1975 two weeks after Louis's version.[24] This version was released on Timepieces: The Best of Eric Clapton. Clapton's version made it to No. 38 on the UK charts,[25] but the single was less successful in the U.S. where it failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 (although it reached on No. 109 on Cashbox's Looking Ahead chart[26]). Clapton's 1996 boxed set Crossroads 2: Live in the Seventies features a performance of the song recorded in London in April 1977. There were also performances of the song included on the Journeyman (1990) and the One More Car, One More Rider (2003) world tours. Several Clapton compilation albums also feature the song.[27]

Guns N' Roses versions

"Knockin' on Heaven's Door"
Song by Guns N' Roses
from the album Days of Thunder (soundtrack)
ReleasedJune 26, 1990
Length5:36
LabelGeffen
Songwriter(s)Bob Dylan
Producer(s)
"Knockin' on Heaven's Door"
1992 UK picture sleeve
Single by Guns N' Roses
from the album Use Your Illusion II
B-side"Knockin' on Heavens Door" (live)
ReleasedMay 11, 1992 (1992-05-11)[28]
Length5:36
LabelGeffen
Songwriter(s)Bob Dylan
Producer(s)
Guns N' Roses singles chronology
"November Rain"
(1992)		 "Knockin' on Heaven's Door"
(1992)		 "Yesterdays"
(1992)

In 1987, American hard rock band Guns N' Roses started performing the song. A live version of the song was released on the 12-inch single of "Welcome to the Jungle" the same year. They recorded and released a studio version in 1990 for the soundtrack of the film Days of Thunder that reached No. 18 on the US Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart and No. 56 on Canada's RPM Top Singles chart.

This studio recording was slightly modified for the band's 1991 album Use Your Illusion II, discarding the responses in the second verse. Released as the second single from the album, it reached No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart and the New Zealand Singles Chart. Elsewhere, the single topped the charts of Portugal, Belgium, and the Netherlands; it was the best-selling song of 1992 in the latter country. In Ireland, where the song also reached No. 1, it became Guns N' Roses' third (and to date last) number-one single as well as their ninth consecutive top-five hit.

Their performance of the song at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert in 1992 was used as the B-side for the single release and was also included on their Live Era '87–'93 album, released in 1999.[29] Another version was released on the video Use Your Illusion World Tour - 1992 in Tokyo II. The music video for this version of the song was directed by Andy Morahan.[30]

Personnel

Guns N' Roses

Guest musicians

  • The Waters – backing vocals

Charts

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[51] Gold 35,000^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[62] Gold 45,000‡
Germany (BVMI)[63] Gold 250,000^
Italy (FIMI)[64] Platinum 50,000‡
Netherlands (NVPI)[65] Platinum 75,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[66] Gold 400,000‡

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Dunblane tribute

"Knockin' on Heaven's Door"
Single by Dunblane
A-side"Throw These Guns Away"
ReleasedDecember 9, 1996 (1996-12-09)[67]
Recorded1996
StudioAbbey Road (London, UK)
Length4:09
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Bob Dylan
  • Ted Christopher
Producer(s)Peter Cobbin

In 1996 and with the consent of Dylan, Scottish musician Ted Christopher wrote a new verse for "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" in memory of the schoolchildren and teacher killed in the Dunblane school massacre. This has been, according to some sources, one of the few times Dylan has officially authorized anybody to add or change the lyrics to one of his songs.[68][69]

This version of the song, featuring children from the village singing the chorus with the guitarist and producer of Dylan's album Infidels (1983), Mark Knopfler, was released on December 9, 1996, in the United Kingdom and reached No. 1 on the UK and Scottish Singles Charts,[70][71] as well as No. 6 in Iceland and Ireland.[72][73] The proceeds went to charities for children.[74] The song was featured on the compilation album Hits 97, where all royalties from the song were given to three charities.[75]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1996–1997) Peak
position
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[72] 6
Ireland (IRMA)[73] 6
Scotland (OCC)[71] 1
UK Singles (OCC)[70] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (1996) Position
UK Singles (OCC)[76] 31
Chart (1997) Position
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[77] 97

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[78] Platinum 600,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Sampled version

Gabrielle's single "Rise" (2000) sampled from this song. Dylan liked "Rise" so much that he allowed Gabrielle to use the sample for free, while receiving a co-writer credit for providing the song's chord progression and vocal sample.[79]

Soundtrack inclusions

Film/TV show Year Performer
Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid 1973 Bob Dylan
Renaldo & Clara 1978 Bob Dylan & Roger McGuinn
Lethal Weapon 2 1989 Randy Crawford, Eric Clapton & David Sanborn
Days of Thunder 1990 Guns N' Roses
Shake Rattle & Roll 2 (segment "Aswang") 1990 Guns N' Roses
Rush 1991 Bob Dylan
Cold Water 1994 Bob Dylan
Total Balalaika Show (Soundtrack) 1994 Leningrad Cowboys and Alexandrov Ensemble
Lawn Dogs 1997 Bob Dylan
The Dybbuk of the Holy Apple Field 1997 Roger Waters
Knockin' on Heaven's Door 1997 Selig
Treasure Planet 2002 Bob Dylan
Windstruck 2004 Youme
Be Cool 2005 Bob Dylan
Las Vegas (episode 45, "Letters, Lawyers and Loose Women") 2005 Bob Dylan
Six Feet Under (episode 61, "All Alone") 2005 Bob Dylan
ER (episode 260, "Darfur") 2006 Jerry Garcia
Salvador (Puig Antich) 2006 Bob Dylan
I'm Not There 2007 Antony & the Johnsons
Supernatural (episode 35, "Houses of the Holy") 2007 Bob Dylan
Cold Case (episode 84, "Blood on the Tracks") 2007 Bob Dylan
Big Love (episode 2-08, "Kingdom Come") 2007 Bob Dylan
My Name is Earl 2008 Bob Dylan
Come Dio Comanda 2008 Antony & the Johnsons
Heaven's Door 2009 Angela Aki
Supernatural (episode 98, "Dark Side of the Moon") 2010 Bob Dylan
Lifted 2011 Uriah Shelton
Blue Bloods (Season 4, Episode 7, "Drawing Dead") 2013 Rick Devin[80]
The 100 (Season 2, ep. 16, "Blood Must Have Blood: Part 2") 2015 RAIGN
Sense8 (season 1, ep. 9, "Death Doesn't Let You Say Goodbye") 2015 Antony & the Johnsons
Containment, episode 5, "Like a Sheep Among Wolves" 2016 RAIGN
NCIS: Los Angeles (S8E15, "Old Tricks") 2017 The Jenerators
The Vampire Diaries S8E14 ‘It’s Been A Hell Of A Ride’ 2017 Chris Wood
Misty[81] 2018 KLANG
The Blacklist, (S10 Ep. 22, "Raymond Reddington: Good Night") 2023 RAIGN
Terra e Paixão 2023 Bob Dylan
Reptile (film) 2023 Bob Dylan

References

  1. ↑ Heylin, Clinton (2009). Revolution in the Air: The Songs of Bob Dylan, 1957-1973. Chicago Review Press. p. 434.
  2. ↑ TonyAttwood. "Knockin on Heaven's door: change, change again. | Untold Dylan". Retrieved 2021-03-23.
  3. ↑ "The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time 2004 101-200". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 20 June 2008.
  4. ↑ "192. Bob Dylan, 'Knockin' on Heaven's Door'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Bjorner, Olof (February 25, 2020). "Burbank Studios, February 1973, 2nd Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid session, produced by Gordon Carroll". Bjorner's Still On The Road. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  6. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970-1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  7. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4929." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 4950." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Bob Dylan – Knockin' on Heaven's Door" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  10. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Knockin' on Heaven's Door". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Bob Dylan – Knockin' on Heaven's Door". VG-lista. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  13. ↑ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 – ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  14. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 77.
  15. ↑ "Rock Digital Song Sales". Billboard.
  16. ↑ "Cash Box Top 100 11/10/73". tropicalglen.com. Archived from the original on 2015-06-09. Retrieved 2017-10-22.
  17. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Bob Dylan – Knockin' on Heaven's Door" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved December 24, 2020. To see peak chart position, click "TITEL VON Bob Dylan"
  18. ↑ "Forum - 1970 (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)". Australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on 2016-06-02. Retrieved 2017-05-07.
  19. ↑ Canada, Library and Archives (July 8, 2017). "Image : RPM Weekly". Library and Archives Canada.
  20. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1999). Pop Annual. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. ISBN 0-89820-142-X.
  21. ↑ "Italian single certifications – Bob Dylan – Knockin' on Heaven's Door" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved November 22, 2021. Select "2021" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
  22. ↑ "British single certifications – Bob Dylan – Knockin' on Heaven's Door". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  23. ↑ "Knockin' On Heaven's Door | The Official Bob Dylan Site". www.bobdylan.com. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
  24. ↑ Schumacher, Michael. Crossroads: The Life and Music of Eric Clapton. Hyperion Press. p. 373.
  25. ↑ "ERIC CLAPTON | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 22, 2015.
  26. ↑ Cash box Singles – Looking Ahead. 20 September 1975.
  27. ↑ "Eric Clapton discography". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
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  29. ↑ "Gun N' Roses discography". AllMusic. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
  30. ↑ Garcia, Alex S. "mvdbase.com - Guns 'n' Roses - "Knockin' on Heaven's door [live]"". Music Video DataBase. Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
  31. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1321." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  32. ↑ "Guns N Roses Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
  33. ↑ "Guns N' Roses – Knockin' On Heaven's Door". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
  34. ↑ "Guns N' Roses – Knockin' On Heaven's Door" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
  35. ↑ "Guns N' Roses – Knockin' On Heaven's Door" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
  36. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 30. July 25, 1992. p. 15. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
  37. ↑ Pennanen, Timo. Sisältää hitin: levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972. Otava Publishing Company Ltd, 2003. ISBN 951-1-21053-X
  38. ↑ "Guns N' Roses – Knockin' On Heaven's Door" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
  39. ↑ "Guns N' Roses – Knockin' On Heaven's Door" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
  40. ↑ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 32. August 8, 1992. p. 14. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  41. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Knockin' on Heaven's Door". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
  42. ↑ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 34. August 22, 1992. p. 24. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
  43. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 27, 1992" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  44. ↑ "Guns N' Roses – Knockin' On Heaven's Door" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
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  50. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  51. 1 2 "1992 ARIA Singles Chart". ARIA. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  52. ↑ "Jahreshitparade Singles 1992" (in German). Retrieved December 21, 2018.
  53. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 1992" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  54. ↑ "1992 Year-End Sales Charts" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 51/52. December 19, 1992. p. 17. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  55. ↑ "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1992" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  56. ↑ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1992". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  57. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1992" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  58. ↑ "End of Year Charts 1992". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  59. ↑ "Swiss Year-End Chart 1992" (in German). Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  60. ↑ "Year End Charts: Top Singles". Music Week. 16 January 1993. p. 8.
  61. ↑ "Bestenlisten – Singles 1990er". Hung Medien Austrian Charts Portal (in German). Retrieved May 14, 2019.
  62. ↑ "Danish single certifications – Guns N' Roses – Knockin' on Heaven's Door". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  63. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Guns N' Roses; 'Knockin' on Heaven's Door')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
  64. ↑ "Italian single certifications – Guns N' Roses – Knockin' on Heaven's Door" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved November 2, 2018. Select "2017" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
  65. ↑ "Dutch single certifications – Guns 'n' Roses – Knockin' on Heaven's Door" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved December 21, 2018. Enter Knockin' on Heaven's Door in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1992 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
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  67. ↑ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. December 7, 1996. p. 41.
  68. ↑ "Dunblane Knockin' on Heaven's Door". bannockburnband.co.uk. Retrieved August 25, 2010.
  69. ↑ "Dunblane against Guns". January 1, 1997. Retrieved August 25, 2010.
  70. 1 2 "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
  71. 1 2 "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
  72. 1 2 "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (30.1. '97 – 5.2. '97)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 31, 1997. p. 16. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  73. 1 2 "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Knockin' on Heaven's Door". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
  74. ↑ "Knockin' On Heaven's Door CD". BBC. Retrieved August 25, 2010.
  75. ↑ "Hits 97". Amazon.co.uk. November 11, 1996. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  76. ↑ "Top 100 Singles 1996". Music Week. January 18, 1997. p. 25.
  77. ↑ "Árslistinn 1997 – Íslenski Listinn – 100 Vinsælustu Lögin". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 2, 1998. p. 25. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  78. ↑ "British single certifications – Various Artists – Knockin' on Heaven's Door". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  79. ↑ "Jotting Down Notes 6". Two-riders.co.uk. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
  80. ↑ "Blue Bloods Music - S4E7: "Drawing Dead"". TuneFind. Retrieved 2016-09-07.
  81. ↑ "미스티 Special OST (Misty Special OST)". Melon. kakao M Corporation.
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