Anyone who was alive on September 11, 2001, will never forget that searing day. Nearly 3,000 people perished in the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York, at the Pentagon, and in the crash of Flight 93 in rural Pennsylvania.
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Despite out collective grief and shock, our faith in this enduring nation did not crumble. Instead, a wave of intense patriotism swept over the land. Flags were flying high everywhere. People affirmed their pride in America, our way of life, and what we proudly represent. Country artists drew on their creativity and passionate emotions to craft music that captured the feelings we shared at that time. As the 24th anniversary of 9/11 approaches, we look back at a few stellar examples.
"Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)" by Alan Jackson
Per Wide Open Country via Yahoo News, Jackson said, "I woke up one morning around 4 a.m. a few weeks afterward, and had that chorus going through my head. The song came out of nowhere in the middle of the night -- just a gift. And I got up and scribbled it down and put the melody down so I wouldn't forget it, and then the next day I started piecing all those verses together that were the thoughts I'd had or visuals I'd had."
He added, "It was a Sunday -- I remember because, when I started writing it, my wife and girls had gone off to Sunday school, and I finished it that day. Like I said, that song was just a gift. I've never felt I could take credit for writing it. Looking back, I guess I just didn't want to forget how I felt on that day and how I knew other people felt."
"Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue (The Angry American)" by Toby Keith
Toby Keith's world was rocked by two tragedies in 2001, per American Songwriter. First, the death of his father, Hubert K. Covel Jr., on March 24, 2001. He served in the Army, fought in Korea, and lost his life in a car accident at the age of 67. He had reportedly implored Toby to do USO tours but his packed schedule did not permit it. However, after September 11, the country singer said, "Now I have to go honor him."
Per the outlet, "Within 20 minutes Keith wrote the lyrics to the song on the back of a Fantasy Football sheet with the working title 'The Angry American.' Keith said, 'When I turned it in, they said, 'Well, it really doesn't say 'angry American' in there. Why don't you call it 'Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue?' recalled Keith. 'So, I did.'"
He said per the outlet, "This song was bigger than I could ever imagine and it was more polarizing than I could ever imagine, but I don't care. It meant so much to so many people and it came from the heart. Godspeed."
"Have You Forgotten?" by Darryl Worley
Worley comes from a family with many members who served in the military. He has great reverence for people in the U.S. Armed Forces and for their self-sacrificing bravery. Also the singer was concerned and appalled at the way so many of his fellow citizens seemed to put the anguish and the patriotism following September 11 behind them. So he and his pal, Wynn Varble, put all those brimming feelings into this song.
Per The Boot, "...I told Wynn about this guy that was in the gym where I was working out in my hometown. I've known him all my life. He came up to me and started spewing all this crap, dogging [then-]President [George W.] Bush. He said, 'They're just looking for a fight anywhere they can go find one. It's going to destroy our nation.' I told Wynn that. He says to me, 'I talked to a guy yesterday, and he was spewing that same crap,' and he said, 'I just wanted to grab him by the throat and say, 'Have you forgotten?'"
That became their song's title. They wrote it in two hours.
"America Will Survive" by Hank Williams Jr.
In honor of those who perished on September 11 and his desire to support our country, Williams did a patriotic rewrite of his song, "A Country Boy Can Survive." The new version celebrates America's solidarity, industriousness, and unity. Its lyrics include these powerful words. "...We came from the West Virginia coal mines / The Rocky Mountains and the big city skylines / Hey, we can hit back and we're gonna be fine / 'Cause this old country can survive, America can survive, Yeah...."
