KNOCKIN' ON HEAVEN'S DOOR (Words and Music by Bob Dylan) 1973, 1976 Ram's Horn Music
The imminence of death is represented by a man "knocking on heaven's door". Written for the movie Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid,
This explination given by David Caruso
I was under the impression, due to the location of the song in the film, that Dylan wrote that for one of the minor depuities. The scene begins with the humble older deputy eating breakfast with his wife. It is a solomn morning. He says to his wife quietly, "well, if he kills me at least my name will be in the papers." The deputy was scared to go and face Billy the Kid knowing that many deputies like himself died that way. Well, he does get shot by Billy and returns to his home and wife to die. That's when the song plays, kinda like from the deputy to his wife. "mama,..."
This is one of Dylan's more popular song's, but many people don't understand it, so I hope this helps.