Do You Remember Where You Were When the World Stopped Turning?

Today  marks the 15^th Anniversary of the terrorist attacks that shook the nation on Sept. 11, 2001. Hijacked planes crashed intentionally on American soil into the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania.

Among all the rubble was nationwide sense of confusion and shock. Moments that no American could ever forget were flashing across every television channel while all we could do was watch while innocent citizens were losing their lives because of an act of hate.

It’s impossible to erase the events 9/11 from our minds. And in the weeks of the aftermath Alan Jackson called on us all to remember where we were on that day and deliver a sense of unity to a nation that desperately needed it with the release of his reverent song, “Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning?”

Jackson penned the hit on his own, citing that he woke up one morning with the melody and opening lines running through his head. He noted that he didn’t intend for the track to be vengeful, but instead to put all the feelings he rad running through his mind as well as the rest of the country into a song.

“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/And the greatest is love/And the greatest is love/Where were you when the world stopped turnin’/That September day?”

Jackson performed that song on national television to a country whose wounds were still fresh just two months after the attack during the November Country Music Awards. The iconic performance is a classic in CMA history which serves as a haunting reminder to never forget.

“It was a tough performance for me. You know, just the whole idea of releasing the song was a little bit tough. I wasn’t sure I wanted to put it out, but everybody convinced me that it was the thing to do … and in retrospect, I agree with that,” Jackson told Yahoo! News.  “But, you know, it’s hard to go out there and sing something new, anyway, and just the topic made it difficult, too. I just remember — other than being relieved that I got through it — I just felt very proud that it seemed to cause a reaction in people. And I was proud that I got to do it and that it seemed like it meant something.”