Lyrics: Bob Dylan
Music: Bob Dylan
Like Dylan, Jerry Garcia varied the lyrics quite a bit, both with the Grateful Dead and with his solo bands.
Thanks to Dan Franzen for his help with this.
This is the Grateful Dead's version from 8 July 1990:
Come take this badge off of meThis is an earlier version, from the Jerry Garcia Band on 24 May 1976:
I won't wear it any more
Now the sun is setting over me
And I feel like I'm knocking on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knocking on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knocking on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knocking on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knocking on heaven's door
Come put these guns in the ground
I can't shoot them any more
The sun is going down
And I believe I'm knocking on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knocking on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knocking on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knocking on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knocking on heaven's door
Come wipe these tears from my eyes
I can't shed them any more
The sun is setting in the western sky
People, I believe I must be knocking on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knocking on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knocking on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knocking on heaven's door
Just like so many times before
Knock, knock, knocking on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knocking on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knocking on heaven's door
Just like so many times before
Come take this badge off of meThis was the version Dylan sang with the Grateful Dead on 13 July 1987:
I can't wear it any more
It's getting too dark to see
And I feel like I must be knocking on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knocking on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knocking on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knocking on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knocking on heaven's door
Come take these guns off of me
You know I can't shoot them any more
It's getting too dark, you know it's much too dark to really see
And I feel like I must be knocking on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knocking on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knocking on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knocking on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knocking on heaven's door
[etc]
Mama, take this badge off of me
I can't use it any more
It's getting dark, too dark to see
I feel like I'm knocking on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knocking on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knocking on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knocking on heaven's door
Just like so many times before
Mama, wipe the blood outa my eyes
I can't see through it any more
[indecipherable]
And I feel like I'm knocking on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knocking on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knocking on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knocking on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knocking on heaven's door
Mama, put my guns in the ground
I can't fight them any more
That long black cloud is pulling down
I feel like I'm knocking on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knocking on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knocking on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knocking on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knocking on heaven's door
[etc]
| Grateful Dead Recordings | |||||
| Date | Album | ||||
| 13 Jul 1987 | Dylan And The Dead | ||||
| 31 Dec 1987 | Ticket To New Year's (video/DVD only) | ||||
| 8 Jul 1990 | View From The Vault (video/DVD & CD soundtrack) | ||||
| 18 Sep 1990 | Road Trips Number 2, Volume 1 | ||||
| Jerry Garcia Recordings | |||||
| Date | Album | Recorded By | |||
| 15 Feb 1976 | Jerry Garcia Plays Dylan | Jerry Garcia Band | |||
| 21 May 1976 | Don't Let Go | Jerry Garcia Band | |||
| 18 Mar 1978 | Pure Jerry 6: Warner Theatre | Jerry Garcia Band | |||
| 28 Feb 1980 | After Midnight | Jerry Garcia Band | |||
| studio 1982 | Run For The Roses | Jerry Garcia Band (note 1) | |||
| 31 Oct 1987 | Pure Jerry 2: Lunt-Fontanne | Jerry Garcia Band | |||
| 2 Sep 1989 | Pure Jerry 5: Merriweather Post Pavilion | Jerry Garcia Band | |||
| 4/5 Feb 1993 | Pizza Tapes | Garcia/Grisman/Rice | |||
"The Dead" Concert Recordings
Ratdoglive CDs and downloads
| Other Dead-Related Recordings | |||||
| Date | Album | Recorded By | |||
| 10 Jul 1980 | The Ghosts Playing In The Heart Of Gold Band | Heart Of Gold Band (note 2) | |||
| 1993 | Dead Ringers | Dead Ringers | |||
| studio 1995 | Furthur | Ratdog | |||
| 1998 | Welcome To Our World | JGB (without Jerry) | |||