Where Were You? Remembering 9/11

9/11 is one of those days that our country will never forget.  I wasn't born yet, but my Mom was.  She had a work at home job then.  Her job was summarizing the news. She recorded both radio and the local TV news and then she had to summarize what they said.  She had her TV on and saw it happen on the Today Show.  Later in the day, she said she remembers just standing outside and looking at the sky.  It was so strange not to hear or see planes flying over.  She spent the next few days working longer hours at her job.  In the evenings, her and Dad just watched the coverage on TV.   It was a scary time. 

Did you change your life after 9/11?  My folks had bought land in the country to build their dream home.  They had planned to wait a few years to do it, but after 9/11, they decided to do it sooner.  You just never know what the future holds and they didn't want to put off their dream.

Mom thinks that Alan Jackson's song, Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning? is very moving.  We have attached a YouTube video and we hope it plays for you.

Here are the words:

Where were you when the world stopped turning
That September day?
Out in the yard
With your wife and children
Workin' on some stage in LA?
Did you stand there in shock
At the sight of that black smoke
Rising against that blue sky?
Did you shout out in anger
And fear for your neighbor
Or did you just sit down and cry?

Did you weep for the children
Who lost their dear loved ones
Or pray for the ones who don't know?
Did you rejoice for the people
Who walked from the rubbel
And sob for the ones left below?
Did you burst out in pride
For the red, white, and blue
And the heroes who died
Just doing what they do?
Did you look up to Heaven
For some kind of answer
And look at yourself
And what really matters?

I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I could
Tell you the difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith, hope and love are some good things He gave us
And the greatest is love

Where were you when the world stopped turning
That September day?
Teaching a class full of innocent children
Driving down some cold interstate?
Did you feel guilty
Cause you're a survivor
In a crowded room did you feel alone?
Did you call up your mother and tell her you love her
Did you dust off that Bible at home?

Did you open your eyes, hope it never happened
Or close your eyes and not go to sleep?
Did you notice the sunset the first time in ages
Or speak to some stranger on the street?
Did you lay down at night and think of tomorrow
Go out and buy you a gun?
Did you turn off that violent old movie you're watching
And turn on I Love Lucy reruns?

Did you go to the church and hold hands with some stranger
Stand in line and give your own blood?
Did you just stay home and cling tight to your family
Thank God you had somebody to love?

I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I could
Tell you the difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith, hope and love are some good things He gave us
And the greatest is love

I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I could
Tell you the difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith, hope and love are some good things He gave us
And the greatest is love

Where were you when the world stopped turning
That September day

Songwriters
Jackson, Alan Eugene

Published by
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Joey,

The Greyhound Who Is Spending The Day With His Folks