Knockin' on Heaven's Door

"Knockin' on Heaven's Door" is a song originally written by Bob Dylan and covered by Warren Zevon on his 2003 album, The Wind.

About the Song

The song describes the feelings and impressions of a dying deputy, who notices that it is getting dark around him as he is knocking on heaven's door. He realizes that he will never use his badge or his guns anymore. Zevon's version does not change any of the actual lyrics, except for him repeatedly adding variations of the line "open up for me" towards the end of the song. The Wind was created as Zevon's days were numbered due to terminal mesothelioma.

Song Lyrics

Note: the text of this song's lyrics is not under the same copyright license as the wiki's encyclopedic text, it is used under fair use/dealing.

Mama, take this badge off of me

I can't use it anymore.

It's gettin' dark, too dark to see

And 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

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

Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door

Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door

Open up, open up, open up..

Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door

Open up, open up, for me...

Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door

Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door

Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door

It's getting dark, to dark to see...

Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door

Open, open, open, open up...

Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door

See Also

• The Wind