Knockin' on Heaven's Door is a song by Bob Dylan written for the 1973 film Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid. It was released as a single in August 1973 and appears on the film's soundtrack album Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid. The tune blends folk rock and gospel, runs 2:32, and features Dylan on vocals and guitar with session players including Roger McGuinn. The two short verses comment on the death of a frontier lawman in the movie, with the refrain about knocking on heaven's door. It became a worldwide hit, reaching the Top 10 in several countries, and has been widely covered, notably by Eric Clapton and Guns N' Roses. Described as an exercise in splendid simplicity, it has appeared on many Dylan live albums and compilations, and Rolling Stone ranked it among the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2004 and 2010 (though it was not included in the 2021 update). The song's spare arrangement and direct storytelling have helped make it one of Dylan's most enduring post-1960s works.
