Dorset and Colin Earl had previously been members of The Good Earth. Soon after recruiting Paul King and Mike Cole, they made their national debut at the Hollywood Festival at Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire in May 1970, the week their first single, "In the Summertime" was released. They stole the show and the record topped the UK Singles Chart for seven weeks, made number one in almost every other country around the world, and to date has sold around 23 million copies. After John Godfrey replaced Cole, their second single "Baby Jump" also topped the UK chart in March 1971. A third hit, "Lady Rose" (also in 1971), gave the group the image as a band for producing summertime based hits.
In time Dorset found the group's good-time blues and jug band repertoire a little restricting, and in 1972 he released a solo album Cold Blue Excursion, with his songs backed by strings and brass and, in one instance, a jazz band. His intention to broaden the group's appeal by recruiting a drummer led to King and Earl trying to sack him, but the management, regarding Dorset as inseparable in the public eye from Mungo Jerry, fired them both instead. Dorset and Godfrey, the bassist, recruited new members and presented a new sound, heard on the fourth album Boot Power. King and Earl went on to form the King Earl Boogie Band.
Mungo Jerry's hits continued through to 1976 with "Open Up" (Top Twenty in Europe and number one in Brazil); "Alright Alright Alright" (a rewrite of an old French hit for Jacques Dutronc, and again a major hit worldwide reaching the Top 3 in the UK); "Wild Love"; "Long Legged Woman Dressed In Black"; "Hello Nadine" (European hit and Top Five in Canada); and "It's a Secret" (European hit).
In 1975 Earl, who had played piano with Foghat in between, returned to play keyboards, and percussion player Joe Rush, part-time member of the band in earlier days, also came back for a while.
The group's line-up has changed constantly over the years. Among those who have played with them are bassist Bob Daisley, drummers Dave Bidwell, Paul Hancox and Boris Williams, guitarist Dick Middleton and keyboard/accordion player Steve Jones. They have remained particularly popular throughout Europe. Mungo Jerry was the first western band who had live TV gigs, in all countries behind the Iron Curtain. Their famous "Golden Orpheus" gig in Bulgaria, also gave them a lot of new fans.
In 1980 another Dorset song, "Feels Like I'm in Love", originally written for Elvis Presley, and recorded by the band as a B side of a single, became a British number one hit for Kelly Marie. They remained successful with overseas hits like "On A Night Like This", "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" and "Sunshine Reggae" (British version by Mungo Jerry & Horizon). But Dorset had to wait until 1995 for a real comeback, when "In the Summertime" was recorded by reggae vocalist Shaggy, who topped the charts worldwide. The last UK chart entry for Mungo Jerry was "Toon Army", a song for Newcastle United F.C. in 1999.
In 1983 "Mungo Jerry" Ray Dorset was part of the blues supergroup Katmandu, which recorded A Case For The Blues, with guitarist Peter Green, formerly of Fleetwood Mac, and keyboard player Vincent Crane, formerly of Atomic Rooster and The Crazy World of Arthur Brown.
In 2003, with German musicians, Dorset recorded Adults Only album under the name Mungo Jerry Blues Band, widely acclaimed as one of the best of his career. 2005 saw him performing with three Mungo Jerry line-ups: The British Mungo Jerry Band (pop/rock), the German Mungo Jerry Blues Band (blues/rock) and Mungo Jerry & the Goodtime Gamblers (jug/blues/skiffle).
Also in June 2005, Ray Dorset had a gig again as a duo with Mike Cole - the original double bass player from the early Mungo days - as a highlight of the "35 Years Of Mungo Jerry" event in both Newcastle and Stoke.
In March 2006 Mungo Jerry released their new single "Mr Midnight" from Phantom of the Opera on Ice (http://www.plazarecords.co.uk); produced by Roberto Danova - who had mixed in the past the old continental Mungo Jerry hits "Lana" and "It's a Secret" - and is well-known for his work with rock and pop music, in combination with big orchestras.
Knocking On Heaven's Door
Mungo Jerry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't use it anymore
It's getting dark too dark to see
Feels 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, eh yeah
I can't shoot them anymore
That cold black cloud is comin' down
Feels 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
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
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
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, wow oh yeah
The song "Knocking on Heaven's Door" by Mungo Jerry talks about a person who is in a state of despair and is seeking solace. He is asking his mother to take away his badge because he cannot use it anymore, and he is knocking on heaven's door, indicating that he is close to death. He feels like he is in a dark place and cannot see, which is indicative of his depressed state of mind. The song talks about how the singer has given up using his guns and has started to reconcile that he is at the end of his rope.
The lyrics "Mama put my guns in the ground, I can't shoot them anymore" also has a deep meaning where the singer of the song is unable to use the weapons and wants to be freed of his pain. He wants his mother to bury his guns indicating that he doesn't want to feel anything, and he wants to be free of the pain that he is experiencing. The song talks about how the singer has accepted his fate and wants to be at peace. The repetition of knocking on heaven's door indicates that the singer wants to be released from the pain he is experiencing and is ready to face what comes next.
Line by Line Meaning
Mama take this badge from me
I am tired of my current lifestyle and want to make a change. My badge is a representation of the authority I have been given, but I no longer want it.
I can't use it anymore
I have come to realize that the power and authority that came with the badge were too much for me to handle, and I cannot continue on this path.
It's getting dark too dark to see
I am losing my way and my vision is becoming clouded. I need guidance and clarity in order to continue on my journey.
Feels like I'm knockin' on heaven's door
I feel like I am at a turning point in my life and am searching for a way out. The phrase 'knockin' on heaven's door' represents my desire to find a new path and start anew.
Knock-knock-knockin' on heaven's door
This line is a repetition of the previous line and emphasizes my desperation and need for change.
Mama put my guns in the ground
I am choosing to leave behind violence and aggression. My guns are a symbol of the harm and destruction I have caused in the past, and I cannot continue on this path.
I can't shoot them anymore
I have decided to move away from violence and conflict, and will no longer use my guns to hurt others.
That cold black cloud is comin' down
There is a looming sense of darkness and uncertainty. I am afraid of what the future may hold and feel as though the weight of the world is bearing down on me.
Wow oh yeah
This line is an exclamation of the emotions I am feeling. It emphasizes the intensity of my struggle and my desire for change.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bob Dylan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
sbaluable
Lyrics to Knockin' On Heaven's Door as recorded by Bryan Ferry
Mama, take this badge off of me
I can't use it anymore.
It's gettin' dark, too dark 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 door
Mama, put my guns in the ground, I can't shoot them anymore.
That long black cloud is comin' down, I feel 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
Mama, take this badge off of me
I can't use it anymore.
It's gettin' dark, too dark to see
I feel 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
Mama, put my guns in the ground
I can't shoot them anymore.
That long black cloud is comin' down
I feel 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
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
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Georgebushpimps
Knocked it out of the park, no other cover of this is as solid, and how the hell does he put that reggae vibe into it! Awesome!
Michael Parker
He is a great artist..
Bravehorn
F ya! Reggae forIver mon!
Lord Brett Sinclair
This is the first time i've heard Ray's version and I love it
Superb
Mungovision
+howard yearley - Thanks for stopping by
Bob Garnham
An excellent rendition by Ray and the band.
goldheartbadge
This cover should have been a HUGE hit; at the time of its release, reggae-inspired bands such as Police, Madness and Bad Manners were doing well in the British hit parade, so it had the right sound for its time.
Корпорация Фернандыч
The best version of this greatest song.Simple masterpiece for everybody!
TheWiegos
I'm cruel surprised the version of "Knockin' ...". It is something special. The reaggae rhytms are amazing, unexpected & so fresh although so ... old!!! Awesome, bravo MJ!
Mungovision
Ray did a great job with this song - its said Bob Dylan likes this version the best