Who's Knocked on Heaven's Door?
Knockin' on Heaven's Door has crossed many musical genres. Dolly Parton made a country version of it. Eric Clapton recorded a reggae-tinged cover of the song, which has been mistakenly attributed to Bob Marley in more than one place. Then there's Wyclef Jean, Warren Zevon, and Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Here, I've linked to as many cover versions of Knockin' on Heaven's Door as I could find on-line. Should you know of one that I've missed, please drop a note in my guest book below and I'll add it. I know that there are over one hundred versions of the song out there, I just can't get my digital hands on links to include.
Begin with the Original Version of Knockin' on Heaven's Door
The Song from the Soundtrack of Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid
Knockin' On Heaven's Door
Amazon Price: $1.29 (as of 12/26/2009)
Bob Dylan originally recorded the song for the soundtrack of Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid. If you've never heard the original, you owe it to yourself to start there. Although Dylan himself recorded several more versions, usually at live shows, this was the one that started it all.
Lyrics and Chords for Knockin' on Heaven's Door
The Original Bob Dylan Version
The basic chords for Knockin' on Heaven's Door are G-D-Am7-Am7 and G-D-C-C. If you listen to the song, the timing should be self-evident. The lyrics are as follows: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 heavens 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 long black cloud is comin' down
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, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Cover Versions of Knockin' on Heaven's Door
From the Past 35 Years
Which Is Your Favorite Version?
Bob Dylan's Original or a Cover Version of the Song?
If the cover of Knockin' on Heaven's Door that you enjoy the most doesn't appear on the list below, please drop me a note and tell me who performs it. Thank you!
When Did You First Hear Knockin' on Heaven's Door
Was Guns n' Roses your first taste, or Bob Dylan?
Share your memories and opinions of Knockin' on Heaven's Door.
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- chinesedemocracy chinesedemocracy Aug 26, 2009 @ 3:32 am
- Guns N Roses live version from the 2001/2002 -2006/2007 tours are actually a remarkable improvement on Bob Dylan's version.
check it out here,
http://chinesedemocracyforum.com
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- Bickyblah Bickyblah Jun 20, 2009 @ 2:51 am
- I heard Dylan's version first. I prefer Guns N' Roses version, however
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- 2FriendsTreasures 2FriendsTreasures May 2, 2009 @ 4:37 pm
- Bob Dylan - I wore out the grooves on the record-I loved his cameo in Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid - was very dissappointed when he was not nominated for an Oscar.
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- bodofagod bodofagod Apr 6, 2009 @ 6:40 pm
- the first time i heard it was guns n roses when i first started getting into their music. when i found out bobdyaln originally made it i was shocked. also bob marley covered it to. i know some other bands did i just cant remember who
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- jen jen Mar 20, 2009 @ 10:03 pm
- I can't even remember the first time I heard it, but I'm pretty sure it was the Guns n Roses version, I like Dylan's version the best though
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- Tiddledeewinks Tiddledeewinks Jan 18, 2009 @ 10:49 am
- My teen boys started listening to Guns N Roses and Poison and other 80's bands after my grown daughter had some cd's they listened to. So, I started hearing the song only about a year ago, and became a fan of Guns n Roses because of that song. Then I heard it recently on the radio by Bob Dylan. I like Axel Roses' version best though.
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- drifter0658 drifter0658 Dec 8, 2008 @ 3:41 pm
- I first heard the tune on the radio when I was mayube 12. About the time of the movie release. I have heard nearly every version, but Dylan's remains the best. The emorion in his 'voice' is errie.
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- SideSplitters SideSplitters Dec 8, 2008 @ 12:46 pm
- GN'R was my first taste of Knockin on Heaven's Door, but I've since heard Bob Dylan's version. I love the GN'R version, but the Dylan version is a little slow (but he's a great songwriter). Nice work!
Other Cover Song Lenses
If you love cover versions, check these out.
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Cecilia Song Cover Versions
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Paul Simon wrote Cecilia and the song first appeared on the Simon and Garfunkel album "Bridge over Troubled Water" in 1970. Whether because that original version was so amazingly well done or simply because it was so popular--reaching #4 in the US--n...
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The Peter Gunn Theme Song
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Peter Gunn had a theme song, and it's been re-made and remixed since his television show debuted in 1958. Once it hit the airwaves, a new hit song began making its way through musical genres year after year. From the Duane Eddy smash in 1960 through...
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American Pie: An American Standard
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Folk singer/songwriter Don McLean wrote American Pie, ostensibly about the plan crash that killed some of the most popular and promising musicians of the day in 1959. The song is a tribute to Buddy Holly and a lamentation of the decline of rock and r...
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People Get Ready: A Gospel-Inspired Standard
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Curtis Mayfield wrote People Get Ready for The Impressions, who had their biggest hit with the song in 1965. The song has been credited with changing the face of popular music, and dozens of singers and bands have recorded cover versions ever since....
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I Fought the Law: A Rebel Standard
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In 1959, Sonny Curtis and The Crickets recorded I Fought the Law. No one took much notice until The Bobby Fuller Four re-recorded the song in 1965, changing Sonny's zip gun to a six gun but otherwise remaining faithful to the sound of the original. P...
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