Knocking on Heaven’s Door – Doors in Pop and Modern Culture, part 3
Yes, I know, we’ve already used this blog title! But this time, we really, really had to. That is because we are talking about the actual song, Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door, first written by The Freewheelin’ (Bob Dylan), and later, covered, by many, many people. I have had several arguments during my lifetime over who actually wrote the song (with some claiming that of course it was Guns and Roses, or no, it was Eric Clapton), but Wikipedia (bless its reliability) proves me right that it was a Dylan song originally. The phrase itself sounds a lot like it is, was or should be a saying, for those who are dying … but people don’t tend to use it in daily conversation about people (at least, I have never heard it used – has anyone else?) Here we look at all the different versions of the song which is so useful for making our blog a little more poetic!
Mama, take this badge off of me
I can’t use it anymore.
It’s gettin’ dark, too dark for me to see
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 doorMama, 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
It was originally written by Dylan for the soundtrack of Pat Garret and Billy the Kidd, in 1973. When you know that, the lyrics start to make a lot more sense. I found it out only recently, and has always wondered what the significance of a badge was, in the first verse, and who the singer was meant to be, shooting guns in the second verse. It was in Rolling Stone magazine’s 500 Best Songs of All Time list, and is one of the most extensively covered songs in history. (more…)




If door knobs had a god, Architectural Classics would be at church every Sunday… there is, however, the next best thing. 
individual, the most romantic, and the oldest and most generally used metal of olden days. The iron, and ironing have been the bane of many a mum and housewife. Iron horseshoes are said to bring good luck. Burying an iron knife under your door can keep witches out, and iron fences keep the souls of the dead in. It was traditionally known as ‘cold iron’… although ‘cold iron’ really is just ordinary iron that isn’t warm! Ah, they had a sense of drama in the old days… So, we are going to look at some of, perhaps, the lesser known benefits of buying an iron door knob, according to olden day superstition!
Now, we are sure that if you have Architectural Classics handles on your door, you’ll be standing there holding it open for people who haven’t even entered the room yet (!), just for the pleasure of touching the gorgeous antiques a little longer.
Still think the foot pull is overkill? I dare you to pick up your food with your hands after using a public restroom. Go on, I double dare you!!