`` Knockin ' on Heaven 's Door '' is a song written and sung by Bob Dylan , for the soundtrack of the 1973 film Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid . Released as a single , it reached No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart . Described by Dylan biographer Clinton Heylin as `` an exercise in splendid simplicity '' , the song , in terms of the number of other artists who have covered it , is one of Dylan 's most popular post-1960s compositions .

Question: who wrote knock knock knocking on heavens door
Answer: Bob Dylan