Bob Dylan called Bruce Springsteen's 'Knockin' on Heaven's Door' the greatest

In a catalog as rich as Bob Dylan’s, "Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door" stands out. The folk-rock track has more than 840 million plays on Spotify and ranks among the most covered songs in his discography, with artists from Eric Clapton and Guns N' Roses to Avril Lavigne and Nick Cave offering their own takes.

Dylan singled out Bruce Springsteen’s live rendition—performed with Tom Morello during the 2015 MusiCares Person of the Year tribute—as the one that moved him most. The full performance isn’t available on platforms, but clips of the moment help explain why Dylan praised it so highly.

“[Bruce Springsteen] did that song like the record, something I myself have never tried. I never even thought it was worth it. Maybe never had the manpower in one band to pull it off. I don’t know, but I never thought about it. To tell you the truth, I’d forgotten how the song ought to go,” Dylan said.

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