What's the story behind Bob Dylan's "Knocking on Heaven's Door"?

Question

Is there a story behind it? Something that inspired Dylan to write it?

Answer 1

Hello Louis M :
Thanx a million for the reminder. I'm an old Bob Dylan fan and I'm now downloading this great tune.
I really don't believe there's anything personal or related to Dylan's life.
Sounds like it's a sheriff from an old western town. e.g. :- Momma take this badge off o' me.
Perhaps he's going into retirement. e.g. :- I can't use it anymore.
Maybe he's just been shot ! e.g. :- Long, dark cloud is comin' down. I feel I'm knockin' on Heaven's door.
Don't know what may have inspired this song. So many of his songs just came right out of left field ! Still don't know what 'The Mighty Quinn' is supposed to tell us.
This is probably just another example of a song that just popped into his head ... but, it's a good one !

Answer 2

"Knockin' on Heaven's Door" is a song written by Bob Dylan from Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid, the soundtrack of the 1973 film of the same name. 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. The lyrics consist of a story surrounding the death of the Russian Orthodox bishop Jonah of Manchuria using the backdrop of the American Western frontier

Answer 3

There are many stories around this song. The one I like best is about this big wooden door on the east wall of Heaven. This guy was knocking on it ... uh... and stuff...

Answer 4

I cant really say for sure but I think it's cause someone died in his family and he wanted to knock on the door so he could come in, what do you think?

Answer 5

I believe it was written for the movie "Pat Garret and Billy the Kid", and was inspired by the story of Billy the Kid.

Answer 6

Isn't that the song he wrote after his son died?
I think that is the one he wrote about his son.

oops, wrong song, i was thinking of something else

Answer 7

weed?