His most famous work is Alice's Restaurant, a talking blues song that lasts eighteen minutes and twenty seconds (in its original recorded version; Guthrie has been known to spin the story out to forty-five minutes in concert). The song, a bitingly satirical protest against the Vietnam War draft, is based on a true incident. In the song, Guthrie was called up for a draft examination, and rejected as unfit for military service as a result of a criminal record consisting in its entirety of a single arrest, court appearance, fine and clean-up order for littering. In reality, Guthrie, though a carrier of the genetically inherited disease Huntington's chorea, was classified as fit (1A); however, his draft-lottery number did not come up.
Doors of Heaven
Arlo Guthrie Lyrics
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If all the doors were closed in heaven
Where would all the angels go
Would they just fly around forever
Or would they come down here below
If the pearly gates were closed this morning
And would they live their lives among us
And share the darkness with their light
If all the doors were close in heaven
They'd have to close the road to hell
We'd all be stuck here with each other
There would be nowhere else to dwell
If the pearly gates were closed this morning
And everyone there had to leave
And death was nothing but a moment
Beyond the breaths you took to breathe
If all the doors were closed in heaven
Who would dare abuse a child
Or let a little kid go hungry
Or not return a simple smile
If the pearly gates were closed this morning
And the host of heaven was on the street
I wonder if they'd look much different
From the likes of you and me
So I hope they close the doors to heaven
And all the angels up above
Come and build a home among us
Remind us what it is to love
If the pearly gates were closed this morning
Would there be angels here tonight
And would they live their lives among us
And share the darkness with their light
Arlo Guthrie’s song Doors of Heaven begins with a thought-provoking question, “If all the doors were closed in heaven, where would all the angels go?” The song believes that the angels need to have a purpose, so if the pearly gates were closed, then they would come down here below and live their lives among us, and show us the way to love. The song prompts the listener to ponder what would happen if the gates of heaven were closed, who would dare to abuse a child, who would let a little kid go hungry, or not return a simple smile? If heaven is closed off, then we all would be stuck here with each other, and there would be nowhere else to dwell.
The song’s philosophy is that the doors of heaven should be shut, and instead, the angels should come and build a home among us because humans need the guidance, the reminder of what it is to love, and the truth that angels could bring. The song's essence is to imagine what it would be like if the angels were with us in the physical form, living among us, experiencing every aspect of existence. Therefore, Doors of Heaven suggests that until we can make this planet a paradise, heaven should remain closed.
Line by Line Meaning
If all the doors were closed in heaven
What would happen if heaven was inaccessible?
Where would all the angels go
Would angels just wander forever?
Would they just fly around forever
Do angels have a purpose beyond heaven?
Or would they come down here below
Would they come to earth instead?
If the pearly gates were closed this morning
What if we were denied entry into heaven?
Would there be angels here tonight
Would we see their impact on earth?
And would they live their lives among us
Do angels have the capability to coexist with humans?
And share the darkness with their light
Can angels spread positivity in negative settings?
If all the doors were close in heaven
Could we survive without heaven?
They'd have to close the road to hell
Closing heaven means eliminating hell?
We'd all be stuck here with each other
Earth is our only habitation.
There would be nowhere else to dwell
No other place to call home.
If the pearly gates were closed this morning
What if hope faded from existence?
And everyone there had to leave
Leaving heaven, what would angels turn to?
And death was nothing but a moment
A brief transit between places.
Beyond the breaths you took to breathe
A process so simple yet profound.
If all the doors were closed in heaven
What is our purpose without heaven?
Who would dare abuse a child
Abusing children is unjustifiable.
Or let a little kid go hungry
Children must never suffer from hunger.
Or not return a simple smile
Everyone deserves kindness and respect.
If the pearly gates were closed this morning
What is the relevance of heaven in our lives?
And the host of heaven was on the street
Living a life among humans.
I wonder if they'd look much different
Does having wings make all the difference?
From the likes of you and me
Are we more similar than we assume?
So I hope they close the doors to heaven
Why we need to realize the importance of earth.
And all the angels up above
For angels to care for earth.
Come and build a home among us
To help create a better world.
Remind us what it is to love
How love can transform the world.
If the pearly gates were closed this morning
What if the heavens disappeared?
Would there be angels here tonight
What if we're all alone?
And would they live their lives among us
Can we move on without heaven?
And share the darkness with their light
If we forget the concept of heaven.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ARLO GUTHRIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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