WHERE WERE YOU WHEN THE WORLD STOPPED TURNING

"Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)" by Alan Jackson

Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day
Out in the yard with your wife and children
Working on some stage in LA
Did you stand there in shock at the site of
That black smoke rising 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
Who lost their dear loved ones
And 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 in pride
For the red white and blue
The heroes who died just doing what they do
Did you look up to heaven for some kind of answer
And look at yourself to 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 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 and hope it never happened
Close your eyes and not go to sleep
Did you notice the sunset the first time in ages
Speak with 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 a 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 had just returned from dropping my kids off at school and was surprised to see my husband's car back in the driveway.  I skipped up the stairs and inquired 'Whats up?', then noticed that he was staring at the TV.  'There's been two plane crashes... he said.  'The World Trade Center towers... it's bad Jo.' he said without looking at me.  I suddenly comprehended what I was seeing on the screen.... a familiar NY landmark... with unfamiliar smoke pouring from the sides.  A new view came on and suddenly I was seeing a plane deliberately fly into one of the towers.  I sank to my knees, tears immediately blinding me.  Two planes, two towers and all those people.  And it would get worse. My husband and I sat in silence as we stared in total disbelief at the horror unfolding before us.  I called my sister when the Pentagon was hit.  She was in Hawaii, her husband was a pilot for the Army.  It was still early there, I whispered the news into her sleepy ear... we were being attacked. 

When the towers collapsed, so did I.  I cried non stop for I knew that not everyone had gotten out and it was too much for me to bear.  I don't remember when my husband finally went back to work.  I do remember that at some point he silently went into the garage and returned with our American flag that we display on Federal holidays.... and he stood it by the mailbox. 

When I went to pick the kids up from the school I looked to the sky.  It was beautiful and clear, barely a cloud to be seen.  And not one single plane in sight.  Not even a vapor trail.  Nothing.  Even the birds seemed to be grounded.  When the school bell rang, all the children ran out into the school yard, laughing innocently, so carefree.  And that was when my sorrow turned to anger.  I knew at that moment that I would support ANYTHING that was done to ensure the freedom and safety for my children and all the other children in their own homeland.

Gatorspictures:  wow. great emotion here, dorn. i was at work (the one person in a 'one person office' at the time, so i couldn't leave). i had internet and radio, and when internet stopped due to intense traffic, i only had radio. it was one of the most sorrowfelt days i knew. all those people...all their families...

BeckieRamos:  Amen! So true. That song is so beautiful and sad.
I was working when it happened, we listened to it on the radio at work, we cried and worried about all of the people and their families. I wanted to leave work so bad and just pick up my children at school and hold them close to me. But, I stayed at work and did my job. I was so happy to see my kids that afternoon and we talked about what happened and prayed. I too support pur country in what we have to do to ensure our safety.
My prayers and blessings still go out to  the families, Beckie

Kimbellina:  THANK YOU FOR A BEAUTIFUL TRIBUTE. I WAS SITTING AT HOME WATCHING TELEVISION WITH MY LEG PROPPED UP DUE TO A BLOOD CLOT. I WATCHED EVERY SINGLE PART OF THIS UNFOLD AND AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS SOME KIND OF A SICK JOKE. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED MY BROTHER WHEN I REALIZED WE WERE REALLY BEING ATTACKED. ALTHOUGH MY BROTHER SERVED IN NAM AND IS OLDER, HE WAS READY TO GO FIGHT AT THAT VERY MINUTE. I DONT THINK I HAVE EVER BEEN THAT SCARED FOR US ALL. BUT, I HAD TO HAVE FAITH IN OUR COUNTRY.
KIM.

Cneinhorn:  My Husband was at sea when this happened.....I was just about to take my Little One to the zoo when I glanced at the TV and saw what was going on......I didn't leave the house for the rest of the day.....I have friends who worked up there and saw it happen.......we could see smoke from here......I too remember how silent the skies were......I remember wanting to go back to Switzerland.....but couldn't get out of the country........when my Husband came home two weeks later, he had no idea of the impact this had........he hadn't seen any of it while at sea........I support the US President and his continued efforts to fight terrorism.

   
Aiibrat:  i was at work when it happened.  everyone was in shock.  a tv was brought in.  it was so surreal & sort of still is right now.  i shed a bit of tears but i think i was mostly in a daze.  

Sdoscher:  It is a very great song and a good tribute to those that fell that awful day. I'm in Florida my two oldest work right in Manhattan, my daughter had clients in the WTC so I was totally terrified. I knew the buildings well, I was in them when they were under construction & then my ex had on office in Tower 1 on the 32nd fl. We really have to watch out for one another..I'm sick to death of these murderers of innocence.........Sandi

Spurgins:  Just trying to remember that day's events makes cry. Getting ready for work, it was 9-10 am. My X came over to my apartment-can't remember why now. I was fussing with my curling iron & putting on make-up. "Haven't you got the TV on?" he asked. "No, I never watch TV, you know that." I growled. Hate mornings! "You should be watching it now, something really bad is happening here!" I just ignored him. He asked were the remote was...I got aggrevated and flipped on the TV. "He stood in awe in front of the screen. "You need to come and see this, Sharon, it is terrible, what happened!" he said to me. "Let me alone so I can get ready for work damn it, I don't want to watch TV." I growled. "A plane has crashed into a building and people have been killed." he said. I was thinking, yeah, right...ok a plane hit a house. Well, I finally went into the living room and watched it for a few minutes. I really don't know what I said after that. I went to work...don't remember leaving the house, or driving to work-all. I was thinking of the woman I worked with saying her daughter lived by Twin Towers. "OMG, how can you work?" I asked. She seemed to not be worried. "Oh she will be alright" she replied. "If she needs something, she'll call, that's the only time she calls." All I could think of is MY DAUGHTER...THANK GOD she was here with me. Drove home in shock.Don't remember at all what I did that night. Next morning I woke up crying. Wanted to call My MOM, but I couldn't, she had just passed away.  I called in work, quit my job-spent all day crying. It was a day that I will always REMEMBER. That's where I was & what I was doing the DAY THE WORLD STOPPED TURNING. For weeks I was sat in front on my TV crying, so hurt for the people that had lost their lives and the families left here to grieve for them. GOD BLESS AMERICA AND GOD BLESS OUR MILITARY MEN AND WOMAN.
Sharon

Rgossett:  Thank you...I have been watching reruns of a show called Third Watch and they had their show regarding 911, made me realize it was coming up on the anniversary.  On that day I had gotten off work from my paper route, sent my family off to work and school, and was taking my morning nap before I had to go back and pick up more papers for the afternoon route.  My husband called me and told me to watch the TV, which I had on.  The first thing I thought of when I saw the plane was that I thought it was a only a little plane and I thought how the heck did he get so lost?  Then when I realized it was a jet I thought how are those fireman going to put out that fire so high up, and how are those people going to get out?  I wanted to go to the schools and bring my children home.  I called my son at college and told him to be careful, I knew how these things brought copy cat crazies.  Then the newspaper I worked for had us go back to the stores and deliver wrap arounds for the paper with the latest news coverage.  It was so weird to see it in print...I will never forget that day or the horror...Roseg

Dvlwitgrneyes:  I was in my preschool classroom with my chidlren and the bus driver camein to tell me that an airplane hit one of the towers. I turned the radio on low to hear but yet not loud enough to alarm the children. I remember standing there with my hand over my mouth just listening in shock, yet managing to hold myself together for the children.
Cheryl

Sprite:  Yeah..i was on the bus that morning listening to Howard Stern and they were watching it on tv and reporting to us listeners what was going on..i was so afraid and worried for my parents cuz they work/worked in manhattan. I say worked cuz my mom is now at a different location, shes in brooklyn now but my dad is still in manhattan..i dont know what type of footage u have seen but it was really really awful to watch people jumping off buildings KNOWING death would be waiting for them at the bottom and then people crying, screaming and running trying to get away from the black HUUUUGE clouds of smoke, now THAT was scary. My parents had a heck of a time trying to get out of there..everything was sooo crazy..my father works on a pretty high floor and he had to actually walk down alllll those stairs..he was limping by the time that day was over..and not to mention people having to walk over the bridge to get out..so many people walking together just to get to safety..it was nuts. In october my father,grandfather,my brother and I all went to ground zero..it was so weird..i dont think manhattan has ever been that quite..the stores right across the street from the towers..my god..EVERYTHING was covered in thick brown debris and everyone had scribbled little prayers in it with their fingers..one store was actually OPEN..i mean not for people to go in and buy things but i mean the doors were open..u couldnt even SEE the clothes..they were just caked in that stuff..i just stood there staring and not being able to believe what i was seeing, i think i actually took a picture but i dont know how to get it on here :( Wow..i just realized im wearing a twin tower shirt..pretty creepy.. :/

Blessed1:  I HAD JUS KISSED MY HUSBAN GOOD BYE  AND DROVE THE KIDS TO SCHOOL
 WITH COFFEE IN HAND THE RAIDO ON TO THE NEWS I HEAR THE  WORDS THAT STOP MY DAY  AS I LISTEN ICLOSTED MY EYES AND PRAYED
 MY BABBIES  ASKING ME WHY DID WE STOP WERE LATE FOR SCHOOL 
I COULD SAY NOTHING AT ALL .  MY HEART BEAT IN MY EARS 
I THOUGHT OF THINGS I DID NOT SAY  TO LOVED ONES , FRIENDS ,FAMILY  WAS  THIS THE END . THIS WAS NOT GODS PLANS FOR THIS WORLD  I CRIED FOR THE PEOPLE I DID NOT KNOW THE FAMILYS IWOULD NEVER SEE  A THE WORLD  THAT NEED A TOUCH FROM GOD.