Guns n Roses - Knockin heaven's door background?

Cyprus106 · #1 12-18-2005, 06:24 PM

I just noticed, after listening to the song oh only abotu 100 times, that there's soem background vocals behind the verse that starts "momma put my guns in ground"... And also, I've always wondered the meaning behind the phone message:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guns n' Roses

You just better start sniffing your own rank subjectification jack cuz it's just you against your own tattered libido, the bank, and the mortician forever man and it wouldn't be luck if you could get out of life alive.

Any insights? I've done some lookin' but couldn't find much.

TexasF355F1 · #2 12-18-2005, 09:49 PM

I can't believe you're just now noticing the background. I always thought it was right there, easy to hear.

But I think it's one of those songs it could mean different things to different people. I personally think it's about someone living a very fast paced dangerous life and getting into deep. The guns could mean anything, doesn't have to be guns. I really think he wrote it possibly about his heroin use.

BleedDodge · #3 12-18-2005, 11:45 PM

I'm sure it's about heroin use. He says "Mama put my guns in the ground, I can't shoot them anymore", and it's my belief that it's a metaphor for needles, and how he doesn't want to shoot them anymore.

"That cold black cloud is comin' down, feels like I'm knockin' on heaven's door". I'm certain that's about getting high.

GNR was awesome back in the day.

TexasF355F1 · #4 12-19-2005, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BleedDodge

I'm sure it's about heroin use. He says "Mama put my guns in the ground, I can't shoot them anymore", and it's my belief that it's a metaphor for needles, and how he doesn't want to shoot them anymore.

"That cold black cloud is comin' down, feels like I'm knockin' on heaven's door". I'm certain that's about getting high.

GNR was awesome back in the day.

That's exactly what I was referencing in my post. But yes, the guns are needles.

Back in the day? They still kick ass and there sound is as fresh now as it was in the late 80/early 90s.

BleedDodge · #5 12-19-2005, 10:36 PM

There's nothing left of GNR. Most of them are in Velvet Revolver with Scott Weiland, and Axl is on his own with the rights to the GNR name. He's supposed to be releasing that Chinese Democracy record soon though, he says. Last I heard, Buckethead was gone, so who are the musicians?

That's why I say "back in the day".

orestes · #6 12-20-2005, 06:10 PM

lol... that song was written by Bob Dylan

Toksin · #7 12-20-2005, 06:21 PM

Orestes beat me to it.

Cyprus106 · #8 12-20-2005, 06:27 PM

lol guys, it was originally a song by Bob Dylan in 1973.
I think in his Pat Garret &... CD. Well, at least I know it wasn't in Freewheelin'.

So the guns COULD mean drugs, but you'd be better off asking bobby himself, rather than GnR.
but I'm talking more about the background voices between the lines of the chorus, not the actual lyrics themselves. I'd bet GnR wanted them to mean something, but I'd like to figure out what.
They say:
Momma put my guns in ground
(It wasn't your fault)
I can't shoot them anymore
(How were they even supposed to know?)
That cold, dark cloud is comin' down
(All things can be healed in time)
Feels like I'm knockin' on heaven's door
(Why do I hide from these feelings?) not sure if this one's right.

The meaning behind THAT, guys.

Cyprus106 · #9 12-24-2005, 02:37 PM

achoo

BleedDodge · #10 12-24-2005, 03:54 PM

The song is still about the needle. Bob Dylan can barely speak he's used it so much.

orestes · #11 12-25-2005, 08:24 PM

i dont think thats true. thats contrary to almost everything i have heard about the man. where did you learn that he is/was a heroin user? im not absolutely sure im right, if you have some info i'd like to see it. im not THAT into him, but i have read some, what comes to mind is the song Tambourine Man which kinda sounds like its about dealing with a drug dealer, but Dylan has said that interpretation is wrong, and the song isnt about drugs or drug dealers. and he said drugs werent a big thing with him. he was into pot, wine, and cigarettes, but i really doubt heavy, if any, heroin use.

BleedDodge · #12 12-25-2005, 11:14 PM

Do a google search.

orestes · #13 12-26-2005, 05:06 PM

yeah i did just to make sure i wasnt trippin. im pretty much just going off what my pops told me and some other musicians, but its not like we had a whole conversation about Dylan, but what i remember is them saying he wasnt really into anything too crazy. i still think you are wrong. searching for bob dylan heroin led me nowhere. where are you getting your information. show me a page. all im finding is some stalker named AJ Webberman who claims Dylans on heroin and he needs to be liberated..whatever thats about. but besides that....nothing really. just people discussing how he is weird and is possibly on everything from pot to speed to LSD to heroin....im still not convinced.

on the other hand searching for "eric clapton heroin" you get nothing BUT sites discussing his battle and rehab with heroin....

Cyprus106 · #14 12-26-2005, 08:54 PM

*sigh*... I'm never going to know what the background voices in the song are... Everyone's a little off base from what I was asking. So I clarified! ...And got the exact same conversation. *sigh*

orestes · #15 12-26-2005, 10:25 PM

lol sorry dude we jacked your thread. but in all honesty, it seems fairly straightforward. the stuff you have in bold seems to definitely be in a regretful tone, i havent listened to the song in probably 5+ years, so thats just from reading it. like he is feeling emo and sad or something. probably about a) his childhood b) drug abuse c) becoming fat and washed out d) a relationship

POST REPLY TO THIS THREAD