“Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” -- Bob Dylan
“Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” -- Ted Christopher
Draw up any list of famous Old West outlaws, and at the top, you will most certainly find a name belonging to Henry McCarty, born in New York City on 17 September 1859 and baptized eleven days thereafter in Manhattan’s history St. Peter's Catholic Church … . Well, so we think anyway.
Well, actually, you are far more likely to see William H. Bonney, the name McCarty assumed in 1877, possibly because Henry McCarty had shot and mortally wounded a thuggish bully in the Arizona Territory.
Or you might just see “Billy the Kid,” the title bestowed upon McCarty by the sensationalist and lurid if popular tabloids of the time.
Well, actually, you are far more likely to see William H. Bonney, the name McCarty assumed in 1877, possibly because Henry McCarty had shot and mortally wounded a thuggish bully in the Arizona Territory.
Or you might just see “Billy the Kid,” the title bestowed upon McCarty by the sensationalist and lurid if popular tabloids of the time.
Henry McCarty,
aka, William H. Bonny,
aka, Billy the Kid
Since his demise at the hands of lawman Pat Garrett in 1881, the legend of this murderous talented killer has grown. He is the villain of many a western and a sympathetic victim in even more as his cunning with a trigger obscures his body count. One of the better retelling of the fatal relationship between McCarty and Garrett is Sam Peckinpah’s 1973 Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid. Starring James Coburn as the titular sheriff and Kris Kristofferson as his prey, the narrative bears little relationship with fact, but the movie is entertaining for all that.
The most powerful moment in Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid is one director Peckinpah resisted including in the final cut. Seeking information on the outlaw’s current whereabouts, Garrett enlists aging Sheriff Colin Baker (played by Slim Pickens) and his redoubtable wife, the Señora Baker (Katy Jurado), to forcefully question members of Billy’s gang. Of course, violence ensues. The bad guys are all killed, but the old lawman is mortally wounded. He staggers off to die as his anguished wife watches despairingly. Language becomes meaningless as Sheriff and Señora Baker make their final farewell with only knowing gazes. As he dies, Bob Dylan’s “Knocking on Heaven's Door” gives voice to his final thoughts.
Peckinpah did not want Dylan to score the movie. Dylan had never written a soundtrack, and besides, the director was unfamiliar with the singer/songwriter. But his contribution turned Sheriff Baker’s passing into a sublime moment and gave popular music one of its most enduring songs.
“Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” -- Bob Dylan
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 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
That said, forget Billy the Kid. Forget Pat Garrett. Forget Sam Peckinpah and his movie. But keep in mind that sone. We are going to leap across the Atlantic Ocean and forward in time to Scotland, 13 March 1996.
Thomas Watt Hamilton of Stirling, Scotland was a disturbed man whose viciousness and number of victims would far exceed that of the far more famous Henry McCarty. Hamilton had once worked as a scout leader, but numerous accusations of sexual and other inexcusable contact with young boys cost him the position. As knowledge of his alleged conduct spread, the number of customers patronizing his shop declined. Always eccentric and a loner, Hamilton became increasingly isolated from his neighbors and vigorously proclaimed his innocence. Finally, the repeated police interviews, the ostracization, the disdain of his community became too much for his fragile, broken mind. Hamilton “snapped.”
Dunblane Primary School
The two-story Dunblane Primary School unfortunately lay in the path of Hamilton’s descent into infamy.
Before leaving home on that bane morning of 13 March 1996, Hamilton armed himself with four of the six firearms legally allowed him in the United Kingdom -- two 9mm Browning HP pistols and two Smith & Wesson M19 .357 Magnum revolvers. He also packed no less than 743 rounds of ammunition. About 9:30 am, Hamilton parked near the school and cut phone lines servicing adjoining homes. He then entered the school gymnasium and opened fire for an estimated three to four minutes before putting the barrel of a revolver into his mouth and taking his own life.
Dunblane Primary students of the class targeted by Thomas Hamilton
in happier days.
In less than five minutes, Hamilton robbed Scotland of an infinity of happiness. Thirty two innocents were struck by his bullets, more than half fatally. The names and ages of the deceased follow.
Victoria Elizabeth Clydesdale (age 5)
Emma Elizabeth Crozier (age 5)
Melissa Helen Currie (age 5)
Charlotte Louise Dunn (age 5)
Kevin Allan Hasell (age 5)
Ross William Irvine (age 5)
David Charles Kerr (age 5)
Mhairi Isabel MacBeath (age 5)
Gwen Mayor (teacher, age 45)
Brett McKinnon (age 6)
Abigail Joanne McLennan (age 5)
Emily Morton (age 5)
Sophie Jane Lockwood North (age 5)
John Petrie (age 5)
Joanna Caroline Ross (age 5)
Hannah Louise Scott (age 5)
Megan Turner (age 5)
It remains the deadliest mass shooting in the history of the United Kingdom, and strict firearm control legislation followed to deter similar tragedies.
Bob Dylan is notoriously protective and litigious when dealing with musicians who tamper with his lyrics -- overly so perhaps. When when Scottish folksinger/songwriter Ted Christopher sought permission to record “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” as a tribute to those slain, Dylan not only agreed but ceded to Christopher the right to add new lyrics for the occasion. Fellow Scottish musician Mark Knopfler accompanied Christopher on guitar. Brothers and sisters of the fallen performed in the chorus.
Released on 9 December 1996, “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” rose to number one in the United Kingdom. All proceeds were donated to children’s charities.
Released on 9 December 1996, “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” rose to number one in the United Kingdom. All proceeds were donated to children’s charities.
“Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” -- Ted Christopher
Lord, take this badge off of me
I can't use it anymore
It's gettin' too dark, too dark to see
I can't use it anymore
It's gettin' too dark, too dark to see
Felt like 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
I feel like knockin' on Heaven’s door
Lord these guns have caused too much pain
This town will never be the same
So for the bairns of Dunblane
We ask please never again
The Lord is my shepherd
I shall not want
He makes me down to lie
In pastures green
He leadeth me
The quiet waters by
Knock, knock, knockin' on Heaven’s door
I feel like knockin' on Heaven’s door
I feel like knockin' on Heaven’s door
Lord, put all these guns in the ground
We just can't shoot them anymore
It's time that we spread some love around
Before we're 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
I feel like 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
I’ve been there too many times before
Knock, knock, knockin' on Heaven’s door
Knock, knock, knockin' on Heaven’s door
I’ve been there too many times before
Lord put all these guns in the ground
We just can't shoot them anymore
It's time that we spread some love around
Before we're knockin' on heavens door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
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
I've been there too many times before
We just can't shoot them anymore
It's time that we spread some love around
Before we're knockin' on heavens door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
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
I've been there too many times before
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