Crawford first polished her craft at club gigs from Cincinnati to St. Tropez, but made her name in mid 1970s in New York, where she sang with jazzmen George Benson on his album "Big Man" 1975) and Cannonball Adderley.
She then led Jazz veterans The Crusaders on the transatlantic big hit "Street Life" (1979). Her follow up solo efforts included "'One Day I'll Fly Away" (1980, Grand Prize for Tokyo International Music Festival); "'You Might Need Somebody" (1981); and "'Rainy Night In Georgia" (1981); which all became soul standards. Secret Combination (1981) stayed on the Billboard album chart for 60 weeks, after which her profile dipped, despite a return to the Top 10 with "Almaz" in (1986).
Naked And True (1995) brought Crawford back to her roots: it included Benson's "Give Me The Night", and confirmed her soul heritage by featuring Funkadelicists Bootsy Collins, Bernie Worrell and The Fred Wesley Horns. But she enjoyed her highest profile of the decade when rising starlet Shola Ama had a worldwide hit with a cover of " You Might Need Somebody" in 1997.
She still continues to make great R&B hits and performs on various Jazz Festivals around the world.
Knockin' On Heaven's Door
Randy Crawford Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't use it any more.
It's getting dark, too dark to see.
Feel like I'm knockin' on heaven's door.
[Chorus]
Knock, knock, knockin' on heavens door.
Knock, knock, knockin' on heavens door.
Knock, knock, knockin' on heavens door.
Ma, take these guns away from me.
I can't shoot them any more.
There's a long black cloud following me.
Feel like I'm knockin' on heaven's door.
[Chorus]
Ma, take this badge off of me.
I can't use it any more.
It's getting dark, too dark to see.
Feel like I'm knockin' on heaven's door.
[Chorus]
The lyrics in Randy Crawford's song "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" tell a story of a person who is tired of the violence and darkness in their life and is ready to leave it all behind. The opening lines, "Ma, take this badge off of me. I can't use it any more" suggest that the singer is a law enforcement officer who has grown weary of their role in society. They feel trapped and unable to escape their current circumstances. The repetition of the phrase "knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door" adds to the sense of urgency and desperation in the lyrics.
The second verse suggests that the singer is also a soldier who has become disillusioned with war. They plead with their mother to "take these guns away from me" because they can no longer bear to use them. The line "There's a long black cloud following me" may refer to the lingering psychological effects of war, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The final verse repeats the first, emphasizing the hopelessness of the singer's situation and their desire to escape it.
Overall, the lyrics of "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" convey a sense of despair and longing for a better life. The song has been covered by numerous artists over the years, including Bob Dylan, Guns N' Roses, and Eric Clapton, and it continues to resonate with audiences today.
Line by Line Meaning
Ma, take this badge off of me.
I want to give up my role in law enforcement and move on from the violence and corruption that it entails.
I can't use it any more.
I have become disillusioned with the badge and all that it represents.
It's getting dark, too dark to see.
I am losing my sense of direction and purpose as I continue on this path of violence and conflict.
Feel like I'm knockin' on heaven's door.
I feel like I am at the end of my life and I am searching for a way out of the darkness.
Knock, knock, knockin' on heavens door.
I am desperately seeking a way to escape my current situation and find peace and salvation.
Ma, take these guns away from me.
I want to leave behind the violence and destruction that comes with the use of guns and move on to a more peaceful existence.
I can't shoot them any more.
I am no longer willing or able to inflict harm on others.
There's a long black cloud following me.
I feel like I am being haunted by the consequences of my past actions and the violence that surrounds me.
Feel like I'm knockin' on heaven's door.
I am searching for a way out of the darkness and chaos that surrounds me and find peace and salvation.
Knock, knock, knockin' on heavens door.
I am desperately seeking a way to escape my current situation and find peace and salvation.
Ma, take this badge off of me.
I want to separate myself from the violence and corruption that comes with law enforcement and move on to a better life.
I can't use it any more.
I am no longer willing or able to continue with the role of a law enforcement officer.
It's getting dark, too dark to see.
I am losing my sense of purpose and direction as I continue on this path of violence and conflict.
Feel like I'm knockin' on heaven's door.
I am looking for a way out of this life and a way to find peace and salvation.
Knock, knock, knockin' on heavens door.
I am searching for a way to escape my current situation and find peace and salvation.
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
@p.blaylock6351
Best version EVER!! No one could have sung it better than Ms. Crawford
@colettesanders5701
It's brings tears to my eyes. In a good way😊.
@merijnvanschaik4989
I agree so much I could cry. The studio-version is better than the life-version of her. This version is the best by far. Waaaay better than the Guns 'n Roses thing. That one is not bad but Randy Crawford's version tops theirs without breaking a sweat of any kind ;-)
@chideraanucha7446
You're perfectly right. ❤
@86AndArt
You have no idea how long I've been searching for this version. It's the version from the Lethal Weapon movie soundtrack. The others sound like they've been slowed down or something.
@paulturnet4572
I know exactly what you mean, I've also been looking for this version, (studio) because you can hear the "subtleties/nuances" in her voice much more clearly,....best version, without a single doubt !! 😉
@MOSARTCHANNEL
Hi bud...me too.....this version is the best ...it’s available on itunes, but U gotta buy the whole album of “Rich and Poor”...and yes it’s the best...👍☮️🌏Ⓜ️
@cazzalyric
Same here. I actually had it on Vinyl and must have lent it out🤦🏾♀️. So grateful 😁
@lucy661000
As old as this tune is I only remember that scene and this version
@aliseymour7
Im so glad youve found this x