Top Ten Covers of Dylan Songs: Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (#2)

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Gee, didn’t I mention this song yesterday when I was discussing the Dylan cover? Yes, I did! Thanks for noticing! By now you’re probably wondering what the heck could top this on my list of covers of Bob Dylan songs. I know. Here ‘tis. #2: Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door - Warren Zevon Well, DUH!!!!!!! One of Dylan’s most-covered songs was originally written for the film Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid. It’s been a long time since I saw the movie, but it seems to me that you heard this song every time someone was about to die. But I promise you, there is NO version of this song that’ll slap you between the eyes like hearing a man who was literally “knock, knock, knockin’ on Heaven’s door” as he recorded it. I hope we never get a repeat of this, either. As you may know, Warren Zevon was diagnosed with advanced mesothelioma in August 2002 and given three months to live. He decided to try to make an album in the scant time he had left instead of going through treatments that weren’t going to help him anyway. In my goofy, totally non-medical opinion, that may have bought him the time he needed. My neighbor went through chemo, and it just seemed to hasten her death. Zevon lived thirteen months, or ten months longer than “they said” he was going to. The “story” is that he deliberately put “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” at position #3 on the album to signify the three months he was given at the onset of the diagnosis. Zevon lived the complete the album, to see his grandsons born, and even to see the album certified gold (500,000 sales). He died ten days after its release. The Wind was subsequently awarded two Grammy awards, the only two Zevon ever won. It’s eerie to hear Zevon sing this song, but I can’t think of anyone else who could have done such an outstanding job on it. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door Written by Bob Dylan Recorded by Warren Zevon From The Wind, 2003 Open up, open up: