Interpreting The Song 'Knockin' On Heaven's Door

Improved Essays
‘Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door’ is the classic Bob Dylan song which has been covered and recorded by a plethora of artists, including Guns N’ Roses, who released it as a single in 1992 (O’Shea 134). Over the years, many artists cover songs to make them their own distinct sound. Some make the song more famous than the original version, while others do not do such a good job. Dissimilar versions of the same song can mean different things to other people. It all depends on the person listening to the song to interpret the meaning of ‘Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door. It could be a soldier wounded in battle, an addict overdosing, or any other event that could lead to possible death. Originally Bob Dylan covered this song for the movie “Pat Garrett & Billy

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    In 1976, the Swedish group ABBA ravished the world with their hit song “Dancing Queen.” Even after 30 years since its exposition at King Carl Gustaf’s ball, the song remains a favorite in dance clubs. Mixed with pop-operatic harmonies and inspiration to the dance rhythm in George McCrae's "Rock Your Baby," as well as the drumming on Dr. John's 1972 album “Dr. John's Gumbo”, ABBA is able to convey an elated feeling of limitless joy and highlights the greatest music of the disco era. Through a beautifully woven blend of uplifting, empowering lyrics and a sophisticated melody scattered with heart-tugging high notes, “Dancing Queen” celebrates the carefree innocence of youth.…

    • 829 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    The New Deal Dbq Essay

    • 534 Words
    • 3 Pages

    ORGANIZING THE EVIDENCE Use this space to write your main points and the main points made by the other side. The New Deal was a success: List the 5 main points/evidence that support this side. .…

    • 534 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Essay 4 In “God in the Doorway” Annie Dillard recalls multiple experiences that she relates to her shift in her perception of God. She begins the narrative recounting an incident from her childhood. Dillard speaks of a cold winter night in which a neighbor dresses like Santa and makes an appearance at her house.…

    • 774 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    The Bad and the Good: Finding a Balance… or Something Like That Finding a balance between good and evil is fairly difficult. Trying to justify your innocence by telling someone you listen to classical music like Mozart and Bach, doesn’t mean that you are. In society, the struggle to see a difference between good and evil comes in play with, for example, the government trying to fool us into thinking that what they're doing is for the greater good and in school-like settings with young children, teenagers, and etcetera. Despite being taught that what they are doing is trying to protect us, we can see it crumble in world affairs such as the controversy in the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri.…

    • 1383 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Amit Roth Mrs. Asselin Language Arts ⅔ 26 May, 2016 Light in Darkest Corners In “Amazing Grace,” by Jonathan Kozol, the “reporter” takes a walk with Cliffie through the South Bronx, seeing the foulness of its peoples’ lives. And yet, Kozol makes sure that we know一 in the darkest of the corners of our Earth, you will still find the light of joy and kindness.…

    • 312 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    “I want to open myself! . . . I want the light of God, I want the sweet love of Jesus! I danced for the Devil; I saw him, I wrote in his book; I go back to Jesus; I kiss His hand. I saw Sarah Good with the Devil! I saw Goody Osburn with the Devil!…

    • 926 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Marlena Houck Professor Christopher Schmersahl ENC 1101 9/18/14 Appreciating Art: Rough Draft “In the Arms of an Angel” by Sarah McLachlan is one of the most beautiful and moving songs that has ever been sung. It has proven to be a remarkable piece of art since its release in 1997 because of its enduring use in many different settings. It is delivered in an attention getting manner with simple melodic tones and little background music.…

    • 712 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    He wants it to be clear that he wants to die (physically and musically) but is also unsure of it. He also repeats the line “Lord, Lord” (11). This suggests he is praying to God for a sign that his career is ending and sees it…

    • 731 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    An American rock b and, Imagine Dragons, released the song “Demons” in 2012. It had sparked major debates and conversations about the story behind the lyrics. Different people had different insights and perspectives to the identical ballad. Many people deliberated the meaning of the librettos; some claimed that the song was a depressing anecdote describing the narrators down fall; others believed that the tale behind the lyrics was a positive note encouraging others to pick themselves up, make better friends and fight the demons beneath their body.…

    • 801 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Ever since Richard’s mother’s illness started, he tried very hard to take care of her and himself. He done this by writing letters to get money and tried finding jobs and such. Over the years, he manages to push aside all the negative events his and his mother had shared which improves their relationship. Richard realizes that being part of the church will give his mothers some solace, so he agrees with the idea of being baptized. I’ll put this song in the scene where his mother begs him to let God…

    • 93 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a novel about a monster that was created by a human. The monster was abandoned by his creator as well as the society right after he was born. Mary Shelley presented the ideas of many writers in her novel, Frankenstein, and this essay will explore the ideas put forth by different writers that are connected to Shelly’s Frankenstein.…

    • 1241 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    You find Grateful Dead's LP and quickly recognize a popular song. You're surprised, however, to find that the lyrics are modified beyond recognition. They often mention death, blood, pain, negative emotions and controversial topics. {{Without preparation, sing a popular song with modified lyrics that include morbid, insulting and other negative…

    • 51 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Imagery In Annabel Lee

    • 961 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The poem "Annabel Lee", by Edgar Allan Poe, shows the speaker's way of coping with the death of his beloved, which is displayed as obsession towards her and his judgment of the holy as guilty. The speaker justifies his obsessed love to Annabel Lee as stronger than any extraordinary force, and presents the holy as disgraced and malice for trying to separate them. First, the repetition of words, phrases and sounds emphasizes the speaker's obsession towards Annabel Lee. Her name is mentioned seven times, and the first time she is mentioned her whole name is capitalized as if she is the only one existing.…

    • 961 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The book, “No One Here Gets Out Alive,” by Jerry Hopkins and Danny Sugerman, is a biography of the Rock n’ Roll star and poet; Jim Morrison. Jim Morrison is known as the singer in the band The Doors. He was also known as, by those close to him, an amazing poet who, more towards the end of his desire to continue music, eventually got his poetry published. Morrison was a unique individual with how he was and through his lyrics. Jim was seen as a sexy revolter of authority whose music involved “somewhat freudian symbolism, poetic but not pretty, filled with suggestions of sex, death, and transcendence.…

    • 1177 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    My Blues song pertains to reality that government is dysfunctional and growing at an exponential rate that usually leads to government actions that go beyond its defensive, rights preserving functions, which entails some form of coercion that diminishes the freedom of others as bigger government imposes more regulations and infringements on liberties that should normally be left with the private sector. Suggesting that the bigger government becomes, the more it reduces our liberty. I imagine that this particular song could potentially be represented by a soul time blues beat with just the singer and an electric guitar, occasionally accompanied by a piano during every other verse ending in standard 12-bar form of…

    • 113 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Improved Essays