Julia Haltigan is a singer/composer out of New York City. Her music resembl… Read Full Bio ↴Julia Haltigan is a singer/composer out of New York City. Her music resembles that of Tom Waits, Holly Golightly and Jolie Holland and her sexy, sultry voice ranges in volume from runaway freight train to a quietly burning cigarette. She writes about love, engines, contagious viruses and sailboats, painting scenes that engage the imagination and warm the heart. She performs regularly in venues around the city, some conventional and some unlikely, such as NYC taxi garages and local doggie parks. She leaves a mark on whomever she comes into contact with, whether it be a fake tattoo or a notch in their heart.

www.juliahaltigan.com

Knocking At The Door
Julia Haltigan Lyrics

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(Am) Well I'm the bird that doesn't fly, Although I
(E7) spread my wings, I'm trying to
(Am) spread my wings

(Am) Well I shot him dead, And in the cruelest way I didn't
(E7) way, on the dotted
(Am) line

(Am) Now I
(Dm) keep on knocking at
(Am) heaven's door but they
(E7) don't wanna let me
(Am) in.

(Am) I keep knocking at the door, I keep
(Dm) knocking at the door If they
(Am) don't let me in I might
(E7) melt from within, I keep on
(Am) knocking at the door

(Am) Well I told him not to love me that hard, but he's a
(E7) take me from the big blue
(Am) world

(Am) How my blood, did flow through cold blood veins, I was a
(E7) shot that strong it couldn't
(Am) cure me…

And so I keep on knocking at heaven's door…

(Am) Well it was one long year that he was mine, I carried
(E7) please oh please let me
(Am) in

(Am) Oh will you please let me in, oh-oh Lord I know how I have sinned.
(Am) I'll pay for what I've done and I'll lose that silver gun,
(F?) Oh will you please, oh please let me
(Am) in

Because I keep on knocking ….

Overall Meaning

The song "Knocking at The Door" by Julia Haltigan features a protagonist who is conflicted between love and violence. The opening lines of the song depict the singer's inability to fly despite trying to spread their wings. This could be interpreted as the character being restricted from their desires or ambitions. The next line states that the character shot someone dead in a cruel way and did not hesitate to do so. The use of the phrase "on the dotted line" suggests that the character made a conscious decision to commit the act, possibly for personal gain. The character then experiences inner turmoil as they keep knocking at heaven's door, trying to be let in but not succeeding. The repetition of this phrase suggests that the character seeks redemption for their actions but is unable to find it.

The second verse depicts the character warning someone not to love them too hard but falling victim to their love nonetheless. The following line indicates that the character was shot with such force that it couldn't cure them, possibly referring to an emotional wound caused by the lover or the singer's own violent tendencies. The final verse depicts the character begging for forgiveness and a chance for redemption. The line "I'll pay for what I've done and I'll lose that silver gun" depicts the character's willingness to accept responsibility for their actions and change their ways. However, the repetition of the phrase "will you please let me in" implies that the character may never find absolution.

Line by Line Meaning

Well I'm the bird that doesn't fly, Although I
I'm feeling stuck and immobile, even though I'm doing my best to break free.

spread my wings, I'm trying to
But despite my efforts, it feels like I'm not making any progress.

Well I shot him dead, And in the cruelest way I didn't
I committed a terrible act of violence, and it's haunting me.

way, on the dotted
I didn't follow any particular plan or logic when I did it.

line Now I
And now I'm dealing with the consequences of my actions.

keep on knocking at heaven's door but they
I'm looking for redemption or forgiveness, but I can't seem to find it.

don't wanna let me in.
I'm feeling rejected or ignored by the powers that be.

I keep knocking at the door, I keep
Despite the odds, I'm still trying to find a way in.

If they don't let me in I might
And if I don't succeed, I don't know what might happen to me.

melt from within, I keep on knocking at the door
I'm so consumed by my quest that I feel like I might dissolve if I stop knocking.

Well I told him not to love me that hard, but he's a
I warned someone against loving me too deeply, but they didn't listen.

take me from the big blue world
And now their love has pulled me into a dark and dangerous place.

How my blood, did flow through cold blood veins, I was a
I experienced a great deal of pain or trauma, and it affected me deeply.

shot that strong it couldn't cure me… And so I keep on knocking at heaven's door…
I'm still grappling with the aftermath of this difficult experience.

Well it was one long year that he was mine, I carried
I had a significant and perhaps tumultuous relationship with someone for a year.

please oh please let me in
And now I'm desperate for someone or something to accept me.

Oh will you please let me in, oh-oh Lord I know how I have sinned.
I'm pleading for mercy and forgiveness, even though I know what I've done is wrong.

I'll pay for what I've done and I'll lose that silver gun,
I'm willing to make amends or sacrifices in order to be forgiven.

Oh will you please, oh please let me in
And I won't stop searching until I find what I'm looking for.

Contributed by Mia R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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