Where Were you (When the World Stopped Turning)?

This is a song composed by country singer Alan Jackson in responce to 9/11. 

September 11, 2001 was a tragic day remembered by many individuals. Many New Yorkers dealt with the heartache that came along with the aftermath of 9/11. Many lives were lost during this terrible day. Almost 19 years later when September 11th approaches the lives lost are always remembered as well as the heroes who happened to survive the day. Alan Jackson’s album Drive (2002), features the single “Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)”. The song focuses on the singers reaction to the attacks on September 11th.

After hearing the news on his television, Alan Jackson knew he wanted to write a song based on 9/11. For many weeks after the event of September 11th, Jackson found himself struggling to compose a song. In an interview with Linda Owen, Alan Jackson states his writing process of the song. He said, “I didn’t want to write a patriotic song,” Jackson said. “And I didn’t want it to be vengeful, either. But I didn’t want to forget about how I felt and how I knew other people felt that day.” One October day at 4AM, Jackson awoke with the melody in his head along with the opening lines and chorus. Alan Jackson first performed the introduced the song at the Country Music Association’s annual awards show on November 7, 2001. After his introduction of “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)” the song spent five weeks at number one, and was nominated for a Grammy, under the category Song of the Year.

This song by Alan Jackson keeps the memory of the lives lost alive. Jackson does so in the form of questions, by questioning the listeners whereabouts during September 11th. Jackson asks,”WhereWhere were you when the world stopped turnin’/That September day?/Were you in the yard with your wife and children/Or workin’ on some stage in L.A.?” It did not matter where people were when the planes crashed into the Twin Towers. Individuals from all over the world knew about the tragic event. Jackson speaks about his feelings on the event in the chorus of the song. Jackson calls himself “a singer of simple songs”, and “not a real political man”. Although this is how Alan Jackson characterizes himself, it shows how he was feeling and that the events happening on September 11th did affect him.

Jacksons song about the attack on the towers shows how no matter where you were during that day, everyone was affected by September 11th. This was a horrific day that no one can ever forget. Alan Jackson shows his respect and honors those who lost their lives by performing and composing this song.