On that tragic Tuesday morning, the crashing of hijacked planes into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and rural Pennsylvania killed nearly 3,000 people and injured over 6,000 others.
As a way to cope up with the maelstrom of emotions brought about by the attacks, many have turned to and sought refuge in music. Tribute performances were held and songs were crafted to pacify the grieving and to honor the heroes whose lives were taken.
In this list, we’ve compiled 10 songs inspired by 9/11 attacks.
Yellowcard- Believe
Lyrics:
Think about the heroes saving life in the dark
Climbing higher, through the fire
Time was running out
Never knowing you weren’t going to be coming down alive
But you still came back for me
You were strong and you believed
Everything is going to be alright
Everything is going to be alright
Be strong, believe
(Be strong, believe)
Thank you for giving up your life that day
Never fearing, only hearing voices calling out
Let it all go, the life that you know
Just to bring them down alive
And you still came back for me
You were strong and you believed
Everything is going to be alright
Everything is going to be alright
Be strong, believe
Want to tell my kids they’ll never know
How much I love to see them smile
Want to make a change right here, right now
Want to live a life like you somehow
To make your sacrifice worth while
Everything is going to be alright
Everything is going to be alright
Be strong, believe
Evanescence – My last breath
You know I can’t stay long
All I wanted to say was, “I love you and I’m not afraid.”
Can you hear me?
Can you feel me in your arms?[Chorus:]
Holding my last breath
Safe inside myself
Are all my thoughts of you
Sweet raptured light it ends here tonightI’ll miss the winter
A world of fragile things
Look for me in the white forest
Hiding in a hollow tree (come find me)
I know you hear me
I can taste it in your tearsClosing your eyes to disappear,
You pray your dreams will leave you here;
But still you wake and know the truth,
No one’s there…
Say goodnight,
Don’t be afraid,
Calling me, calling me as you fade to black.
(Say goodnight) Holding my last breath
(Don’t be afraid) Safe inside myself
(Calling me, calling me) Are all my thoughts of you?
Sweet raptured light, it ends here tonight
Tori Amos – I Can’t see New York
No lines are drawn
From here,
No lands are Owned
Thirteen thousand and holding
Swallowed,
In the purring of her engines
Tracking the beacon here
“Is there a Signal there,
On the Other Side?”
On the Other Side?
What do you mean,
Side of what things?And you said,
And you did
And you said you would find me here
And you said that you would find me,
Even in death
And you said,
And you said you’d find meBut I can’t see New York
As I’m circling down,
Through white cloud,
Falling out
And I know his lips are warm,
But I can’t seem to find my way out,
My way out
I can’t see New York
As I’m circling down,
Through white cloud,
Falling out
And I know his lips are warm
But I can’t seem to find my way out,
My way out
Of this hunting groundFrom here,
Crystal meth in metres of millions
In the end,
All we have,
Soul Blueprints
And did we get lost in it?
Do we conduct a search for this?
“From the Other Side?”
From the Other Side?
What do they mean
Side of what things?
And you said,
And you did
And you said you could find me here
And you said that you would find me
Even in Death
And you said,
And you said you’d find me
But I can’t see New York
As I’m circling down,
Through white cloud,
Falling out
And I know his lips are warm
But I can’t seem to find my way out,
My way out
I can’t see New York
As I’m circling down,
Through white cloud,
I’m falling out
And I know your lips are warm
But I can’t seem to find my way out,
My way out
Of your hunting ground
You again
It’s you again
I can’t see
I can’t see New York
I can’t see
I can’t see New York
From the Other Side
I Am From the Other Side
The Cranberries – New New York
Lyrics:
New, new, new, ah
New, new, new, ah
New new york skyline
Wounds they heal in time
Don’t crawl and don’t despair
It’s a new new york today
I look across these city streets
My heart is numb, it still beats
Nothing to say
There’s nothing to say
I look across this empty room
My heart is still in bloom
There’s nothing to say
I only can pray
New, new, new, ah
New, new, new, ah
New new york skyline
Wounds they heal in time
Don’t crawl and don’t despair
It’s a new new york today
I look across these city streets
My heart is cold it beats
30th of may
Ground zero today
New, new, new, ah
New, new, new, ah
I get down on my knees and pray
For the heroes of the day
And no comfort I can find
For the loved ones left behind
They won’t tear us apart
They won’t tear us apart
They won’t tear us apart
They won’t tear us apart
No way
New day
New day
Dream Theater – Sacrificed Sons
Lyrics:
Walls are closing
Anxiously
Channel surfing
Frantically
Burning City
Smoke and fire
Planes we’re certain
Faith inspired
No clues
A complete surprise
Who’ll be
Coming home tonight
Heads all turning
Towards the sky
Towers crumble
Heroes die
Who would wish this
On our people
And proclaim
That His will be done
Scriptures they heed have misled them
All praise their Sacrificed Sons
Teach them
What to think and feel
Your ways
So enlightening
Words they preach
I can’t relate
If God’s true Love
Are acts of Hate
God on High
Our mistakes
Will mankind be extinct?
There’s no time to waste
Who serves the truth
For Heavens’ sake
w.
Alan Jackson – Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)
Did you stand there in shock at the sight of that black smoke
Risin’ against that blue sky?
Did you shout out in anger, in fear for your neighbor
Or did you just sit down and cry?
Did you weep for the children, they lost their dear loved ones
Pray for the ones who don’t know?
Did you rejoice for the people who walked from the rubble
And sob for the ones left below?
Did you burst out with pride for the red, white, and blue
And the heroes who died just doin’ 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 can tell you
The diff’rence 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 turnin’
That September day?
Teachin’ a class full of innocent children
Or drivin’ 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 and hope it never happened
Close your eyes and not go to sleep?
Did you notice the sunset for the first time in ages
And 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 watchin’
And turn on I Love Lucy reruns?
Did you go to a church and hold hands with some strangers
Stand in line to 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 can tell you
The diff’rence 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 can tell you
The diff’rence 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
And the greatest is love
And the greatest is love
Where were you when the world stopped turnin’
On that September day?
Kristy Jackson – Little Did She Know (She’d Kissed a Hero)
Lyrics:
He found some socks
She chose his tie
And when he left for work that morning he was just another guy
Going to work
He’d have to fly
Out to a meeting in L.A. so she had kissed him twice goodbye
Little did she know she’d kissed a hero
Though he’d always been one in her eyes
But when faced with certain death
He’d said a prayer and took a breath
And led an army of true angels in the sky
Little did she know she’d kissed a hero
Though he’d always been an angel in her eyes
Putting others first, it’s true
That’s what heroes always do
Now he doesn’t need a pair of wings to fly
The phone had rung
His voice was calm
Before he could tell her anything she knew something was wrong
‘I love you so’
The last words he’d said
She said, ‘I love you, too’
And then the phone went dead
Little did she know she’d kissed a hero
Though he’d always been one in her eyes
But when faced with certain death
He’d said a prayer and took a breath
And led an army of true angels in the sky
Little did she know she’d kissed a hero
Though he’d always been an angel in her eyes
Putting others first, it’s true
That’s what heroes always do
Now he doesn’t need a pair of wings to fly
Darryl Worley – Have You Forgotten?
Lyrics:
I hear people saying we don’t need this war
But, I say there’s some things worth fighting for
What about our freedom and this piece of ground
We didn’t get to keep ’em by backing down
They say we don’t realize the mess we’re getting in
Before you start your preaching let me ask you this my friend
Have you forgotten how it felt that day?
To see your homeland under fire
And her people blown away
Have you forgotten when those towers fell?
We had neighbors still inside going through a living hell
And you say we shouldn’t worry ’bout Bin Laden
Have you forgotten?
They took all the footage off my T.V.
Said it’s too disturbing for you and me
It’ll just breed anger that’s what the experts say
If it was up to me I’d show it everyday
Some say this country’s just out looking for a fight
Well, after 9/11 man I’d have to say that’s right
Have you forgotten how it felt that day?
To see your homeland under fire
And her people blown away
Have you forgotten when those towers fell?
We had neighbors still inside going through a living hell
And we vowed to get the one’s behind Bin Laden
Have you forgotten?
I’ve been there with the soldiers
Who’ve gone away to war
And you can bet that they remember
Just what they’re fighting for
Have you forgotten all the people killed?
Yeah, some went down like heroes in that Pennsylvania field
Have you forgotten about our Pentagon?
All the loved ones that we lost and those left to carry on
Don’t you tell me not to worry about Bin Laden
Have you forgotten?
Have you forgotten?
Have you forgotten?
Bruce Springsteen – Into the fire
And streaked with blood
I heard you calling me
Then you disappeared into the dustUp the stairs, into the fire
Yeah, up the stairs, into the fire
I need your kiss
But love and duty called you some place higher
Somewhere up the stairs, into the fireMay your strength give us strength
May your faith give us faith
May your hope give us hope
May your love give us loveMay your strength give us strength
May your faith give us faith
May your hope give us hope
May your love give us love
You gave your love to see
In fields of red and autumn brown
You gave your love to me
And lay your young body down
Up the stairs, into the fire
Yeah, up the stairs, into the fire
I need you near
But love and duty called you some place higher
Somewhere up the stairs, into the fire
May your strength give us strength
May your faith give us faith
May your hope give us hope
May your love give us love
May your strength give us strength
May your faith give us faith
May your hope give us hope
May your love give us love
May your strength give us strength
May your faith give us faith
May your hope give us hope
May your love give us love
It was dark, too dark to see
You held me in the light you gave
You lay your hand on me
Then walked into the darkness of your smoky grave
