The best song about 9/11/01 - released in 1989

Posted over 2 years ago

I've heard some songs written about 9/11 - bad (Loudon Wainwright, McCartney), ok (David Wilcox), schizo (Let's Roll - Neil Young - who would change his tune 5 years later).But I think the most prescient and eerie has to be some of the lyrics from Don Henley's "New York Minute". The first time I heard this again after 9/11 it gave me chills. Check out these excerpts:Harry got up, dressed all in blackWent down to the station,and he never came back...And he won't be down on Wall Street anymoreHe had a home, love of a girl But men get lost sometimes as years unfurlOne day he crossed some line, and he was too much in this world...In a New York minute, everything can changeIn a New York minute, things can get pretty strangeLying here in thedarkness, I hear the sirens wailSomebody going to emergency, somebody's going to jailYou find somebodyto love in this world, you better hang on toothand nailThe wolf is always at the doorAnd in these days, darkness falls earlyAnd people rush home to the ones they love...take care of your ownOne day they're here, next day they're gonePulled my coat around my shoulders,took a walk down through theparkLeaves were falling around me, groaning city in the gathering darkHas this song hit anyone else in this way?

Comments (7)

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Terry Staunton says There's a song by Joe Henry called Fireman's Wedding, which I couldn't stop playing in the days after 9/11. It's basically about a group of people partying as if it was their last day on earth - because in their line of work there was always a possibility that it was. The key passage, at the end of the bridge, goes something like... "Let's all pretend we'll live long enough to grow weary and weak, and retire. And that all news will be good news from now on."

Permalink posted 12/12/2006
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deadmandeadman says Good one Mark, amazing isn't it? A song can grow an' evolve even while stayin' static. The song's the same, we've opened new eyes.

Permalink posted 12/12/2006
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engelcox says The song that always reminds me of 9/11, although it's much more of a stretch, is Billy Joel's "Miami 2017", mainly for these lines: "I've seen the lights go out on Broadway- I watched the mighty skyline fall." Not much of the rest of the song fits, but that bit just conjures up an image.

Permalink posted 12/12/2006
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bubb says 'Earthquake In New York City, the Chrysler building fell in my yard. But when 'The Shit Hits The Fan', i know i got to get my ass back to Sunset Boulevard'! Lyrics by Todd Rundgren from the song 'Shit Hits The Fan/Sunset Boulevard' from his cd 'A Wizard a True Star'. Close enough!

Permalink posted 12/12/2006
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Terry Staunton says Um, no, bubb. Not that close at all. Quite crass, in the context of the original post, methinks. But surely you don't need me to point that out...

Permalink posted 12/12/2006
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FunkyButt says I haven't thought about the song New York Minute in quite a while. That is so amazing, that it fits so well into what passed on 9/11. Crazy really.

Permalink posted 12/12/2006
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bubb says A building in New York falling down has no relevance? What are you talking about Terry?

Permalink posted 12/13/2006