List of songs about the September 11 attacks

This list contains songs which were inspired by or contain lyrics referring to the September 11 attacks.

Artist/composer	Title	Album	Year	Description
50 Cent	"Patiently Waiting"	Get Rich or Die Tryin'	2003	Lyrics include: "Sit and politic with passengers from 9/11." and "Shady Records was eighty seconds away from the towers."[1]
Adams, RyanRyan Adams	"My Blue Manhattan"	Love Is Hell	2004	[2]
Allen, LilyLily Allen	"Him"	It's Not Me, It's You	2009	Lyrics include "Ever since we can remember, people have died in his good name, long before that September, long before hijacking planes." The lyrics acknowledge the deaths of many in the name of god during 9/11 due to the terrorist attacks by religious extremists.
Amos, ToriTori Amos	"I Can't See New York"	Scarlet's Walk	2002	The song describes the experience of an airplane passenger on September 11, 2001, circling over New York City and unable to see the World Trade Center.[3]
Amps for Christ	"AFC Tower Song"
And One	"Seven"	Tanzomat	2011	Lyrics include: "Grey smoke hit the ground; Seven came down without a sound; Rich man company; WTC mystery" (a reference to the September 11 attacks and the mystery third white plane which has caused some speculation)
Anti-Flag	"911 for peace"	Mobilize	2001
Automatic Loveletter	"Dream With Me"
Autopilot Off	"The 12th Day"	Make a Sound
Autumn, EmilieEmilie Autumn	"By The Sword"	n/a (single)	2001	Released as a charity single.[4][5]
Bhardwaj, RekhaRekha Bhardwaj	"Ranaji"	Gulaal (movie)	2009	Gulaal Soundtrack album by Piyush Mishra
Beastie Boys	"An Open Letter to NYC"	To the 5 Boroughs		[2]
Beyoncé	"I Was Here"	4	2011	[6]
TheBibleCodeSundays	"The Boys of Queens"			Song about a soldier who is a member of an Irish family from Queens. His family has a long firefighter tradition and lost most of its male members to 9/11. Furthermore, it deals with him suffering from the events and the aftermath and his own death in the Middle East.
Jo Ann Biviano	"I'll Always Remember"		2010
Black 47	"Mychal"
Bloc Party	"Hunting for Witches"	A Weekend in the City		[7]
Blue Man Group	"Exhibit 13"	The Complex	2003
Bon Jovi	"Undivided"	Bounce
Jon Bon Jovi & Richie Sambora	"America The Beautiful"
Box Car Racer	"Elevator"	Box Car Racer
Box Car Racer	"Watch The World"	Box Car Racer
BoySetsFire	"Release The Dogs"	Tomorrow Come Today	2003
Bryden, NellNell Bryden	"Sirens"	Shake The Tree (album)	2012	This song was written by New York singer Nell Bryden and Patrick Mascall and was later covered by Cher on her Closer to the Truth album
Brice, ColieColie Brice	"Wash It Away from Me""	Blues 2.0 (album)	2006
Camel	"For Today"	A Nod and a Wink	2002
Carpenter, Mary ChapinMary Chapin Carpenter	"Grand Central Station"	Between Here and Gone	2003
The Charlie Daniels Band	"This Ain't No Rag, It's a Flag"	Live! (bonus track)	2001
The Charlie Daniels Band	"The Last Fallen Hero"	Redneck Fiddlin' Man	2002
Chenoweth, KristinKristin Chenoweth	Borrowed Angels	As I Am	2005
Cher	"Song for the Lonely"	Living Proof	2001
The Clarks	"Hey You"	"Another Happy Ending"	2002
Cohen, LeonardLeonard Cohen	"On That Day"	Dear Heather	2004	[8]
Coldplay	"Politik"	A Rush of Blood to the Head	2002	Written the day of the attacks. Chris Martin told NME that it reflects his realization of mortality after 9/11.[9]
The Cranberries	"New New York"	Stars: The Best of 1992–2002	2002	[10]
Crow, SherylSheryl Crow	"God Bless this Mess"	Detours	2008	Linked 9-11 with the Gulf War.[8]
Crow, SherylSheryl Crow	"Out of Our Heads"	Detours	2008	About the courage shown on 9-11; also criticizes Bush as giving a manipulative television address on that day.[11]
Crow, SherylSheryl Crow	"Safe and Sound"	C'mon, C'mon	2001
CunninLynguists	"Appreciation"	SouthernUnderground	2003
Curse	"Nichts Wird Mehr So Sein Wie Es War"	n/a, released as a free download	2001
dc Talk	"Let's Roll"
Diddley, BoBo Diddley	"We Ain't Scared of You" (a.k.a. "My Eagle Is Pissed")
Robert DeMartino	"The Most Beautiful White Doves"		2002
DiFranco, AniAni DiFranco	"Self Evident"
Disturbed	"Prayer"	Believe	2002	[12]
DJ Sammy	"Heaven" (9/11 Remix)
Dream Theater	"Sacrificed Sons"	Octavarium	2005	Starts with a Sample from 9/11 (Radio & Television)
The Dresden Dolls	"Truce"	The Dresden Dolls	2003
Eagles	"Hole in the World"	The Very Best Of	2003
Eder, LindaLinda Eder	"If I Had My Way" & "If I Should Loose My Way"
Eminem	"My Dad's Gone Crazy"	The Eminem Show	2002	Lyrics include: "Inside of a plane, aimed at the World Trade."[13]
The Empire Shall Fall	"Choir of Angels"	Awaken
Epica	"Façade of Reality"	The Phantom Agony
Etheridge, MelissaMelissa Etheridge	"Tuesday Morning"	Lucky
Evanescence	"My Last Breath"	Fallen
Everclear	"The New York Times"	Slow Motion Daydream
Fiasco, LupeLupe Fiasco	"Words I Never Said"	Lasers	2011
Five for Fighting	"Tuesday"		2009	Five for Fighting's "Superman," released in late 2000, also became an unofficial anthem for the first responders in the days following the attacks[14]
Fleetwood Mac	"Illume (9-11)"	Say You Will	2003
Francey, DavidDavid Francey	"Grim Cathedral"	Skating Rink	2003
Francis, SageSage Francis	"Makeshift Patriot"	n/a (single)	2001	A "knee-jerk reaction" to a visit to Ground Zero five days after 9/11[10]
Goldfinger feat. Mest & Good Charlotte	"The Innocent"	The Best of Goldfinger	2005
Gorillaz feat. D12 & Terry Hall	"911"	Bad Company (soundtrack)		[2]
Grant, AmyAmy Grant	"I Don't Know Why"	Simple Things
Hammill, PeterPeter Hammill	"Ghosts of planes"	Thin Air
Hardy, JackJack Hardy	"Ground Zero"	Vigil	2002	Released on a benefit album organized by Suzanne Vega, entirely of original songs about 9/11.[15]
Hatfield, JulianaJuliana Hatfield	"Hole in the Sky"			About the gap in the Manhattan skyline left by the destruction of the Twin Towers.[10]
Hiatt, JohnJohn Hiatt	"When New York Had Her Heart Broke"	Dirty Jeans and Mudslide Hymns
Iced Earth	"When the Eagle Cries"	The Glorious Burden	2004
Imagine Dragons	"America"	Night Visions	2011	Lyrics include "From farmers in the fields, to the tallest of the towers that fall and rise, 1-7-7-6, the names upon the list, for all the ones that gave until they died." [16]
Immortal Technique	"Bin Laden"	n/a (single)	2005	Attributes much of the blame for 9/11 to U.S. foreign policy.[8]
Immortal Technique	"The Cause of Death"	Revolutionary Vol. 2	2009
Jackson, AlanAlan Jackson	"Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)"	Drive	2002	[17]
Jackson, KristyKristy Jackson	"Little Did She Know (She'd Kissed a Hero)"	n/a Single	2001	Written in response to the 9/11 Tragedy. The song makes reference to a passenger on Flight 93.[18] Responses to the song were later turned into a book.[19]
Jackson, MichaelMichael Jackson	"What More Can I Give"	n/a (never released)	2001	Performed at an October 2001 benefit concert. Originally intended as a benefit single, but it was never released commercially.[15]
Jackyl	"Open Invitation (I Hate You Bin Laden)"			[20]
Jadakiss	"Why"	Kiss of Death	2004	Lyrics include "Why did Bush knock down the Towers?"
James	"Hey Ma"	Hey Ma	2008	Addresses the price paid for revenge[10]
Jay-Z and Alicia Keys	"Empire State of Mind"	The Blueprint 3	2009	The song is largely about New York City in general, but includes the line "Long live the World Trade."
Kaplansky, LucyLucy Kaplansky	"Land of the Living"	The Red Thread	2004
Keith, TobyToby Keith	"Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)"	Unleashed	2001	Toby Keith wrote this song in response to his father's death and the 9/11 attacks in 2001. At first, he was reluctant to record the song and decided to only play it live for military personnel. Later however, Corps James L. Jones convinced him to record it saying that it was his, "duty as an American citizen to record the song." [21]
Keith, TobyToby Keith	"My list"	Pull My Chain	2002	Tells about a firefighter who decides to spend more time with his family after witnessing the 9/11 attacks on TV.
Killswitch Engage	"Life to Lifeless"	Alive or Just Breathing
Living Colour	"Flying"	Collideøscope	2003	From the perspective of a man who gets the nerve to ask out a woman in the World Trade Center moments before the first plane hits, and the couple then jump from the burning building to their deaths.[22]
Knopfler, MarkMark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris	"If This Is Goodbye"	All the Roadrunning	2006	Inspired by Ian McEwan's piece in The Guardian.[23]
Kweli, TalibTalib Kweli	"The Proud"	Quality	2002	A 9-11-oriented tribute.[11]
LaBrie, JamesJames LaBrie	"Smashed"	Elements of Persuasion	2005
Lavin, ChristineChristine Lavin	"Firehouse"	Vigil	2002	Released on a benefit album organized by Suzanne Vega, entirely of original songs about 9/11.[15]
Lonestar	"I'm Already There"	I'm Already There	2001
The Low Anthem	"Boeing 737"	Smart Flesh	2011
MacDonald, RodRod MacDonald	"My Neighbors In Delray"	Recognition	2003	A portrait of the hijackers, 13 of whom lived in Delray Beach, FL just prior to September 11, 2001.
Mayer, JohnJohn Mayer	"Covered in Rain"	As/Is	2003
McCartney, PaulPaul McCartney	"Freedom"	Driving Rain	2001	[24]
McDonald, AudraAudra McDonald	"I'll Be Here"	Go Back Home (album)	2003	From the musical "Ordinary Days"[25]
McLachlan, SarahSarah McLachlan	"World on Fire"	Afterglow	2003	[26]
Megaherz	"Glas Und Tränen"	Herzwerk II	2002	Literally "Glass And Tears" (and originally titled "Blut Und Tränen", "Blood And Tears"), contains an account of the violent atmosphere during and ideologies behind the attacks.[27]
Megaherz	"I.M. Rumpelstilzchen"	Herzwerk II	2002	From the point of view of a double agent employed by a tyrannical government; about the paranoid global political climate after the attacks.[28]
MellowHype	"Decoy"	Mellowhypeweek	2013
Misia feat. Erykah Badu	"Akai Inochi" (Red Destiny)	Mars & Roses	2004	An anti-war song which speaks about how the events of 9/11 turned the "seemingly distant existence of war into the reality of now".[29]
Ministry	"Lieslieslies"	Rio Grande Blood	2006	[10]
Moby	"Harbour"	18	2002	[2]
My Chemical Romance	"Skylines and Turnstiles"	I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love	2002	Gerard Way wrote this song after witnessing the 9/11 attacks while on his way going to work. He formed the band, My Chemical Romance after witnessing the Twin Towers' fall and this marks as the first ever song written by the band.
Carrie Newcomer	"I Heard an Owl"	The Gathering of Spirits	2002	Written in response to the 9/11 attacks. Chorus starts "so don't tell me hate is ever right or god's will"
No Use for a Name	"Insecurity Alert"
Pablo, PeteyPetey Pablo	"Raise Up (USA Flag Remix)"
Paris	"What Would You Do?"	Sonic Jihad	2003	About 9-11 conspiracy theories.[8]
Paxton, TomTom Paxton	"The Bravest"	Looking for the Moon
Powers, JeffJeff Powers	"Tall Buildings (9/11)"	"JeffPowers"
Renaud and Axelle Red	"Manhattan-Kaboul"	Boucan d'enfer (Renauld)	2002	"Deals with the 11 September 2001 attacks in New York"[30]
Reich, SteveSteve Reich	"WTC 9/11"	WTC 9/11	2009-2010
Rush	"Peaceable Kingdom"	Vapor Trails	2002
Scarling.	"Alexander The Burn Victim"	Sweet Heart Dealer	2004
S.E.X.	"Before September"	Originally from the EP Before September and later on the 2015 album Stop The Wars	2012	Contrasts life before the attacks and a hope for a better future.[31]
Slayer	"Jihad"	Christ Illusion	2006	[11]
Sleater-Kinney	"Far Away"	One Beat	2002	The song contrast's President George W. Bush's actions on September 11, when he was flown away to a secure location, with those of the emergency responders at the World Trade Center.[3]
Smith, Michael W.Michael W. Smith	"There She Stands"	Worship Again	2002	[32]
Smith, WillWill Smith feat. Mary J. Blige	"Tell Me Why"		2005	[11]
Springsteen, BruceBruce Springsteen	"Countin' on a Miracle"	The Rising	2002
Springsteen, BruceBruce Springsteen	"Empty Sky"	The Rising	2002	Told from the point of view of a person longing for one last moment with their spouse who was killed in the attacks.
Springsteen, BruceBruce Springsteen	"Into the Fire"	The Rising	2002	Told from the point of view of a spouse of a firefighter.
Springsteen, BruceBruce Springsteen	"Lonesome Day"	The Rising	2002
Springsteen, BruceBruce Springsteen	"Mary's Place"	The Rising	2002	Told from the point of view of a widow who lost their spouse in the attacks. A friend has invited this person to a party at "Mary's Place" to help with moving on.
Springsteen, BruceBruce Springsteen	"Paradise"	The Rising	2002
Springsteen, BruceBruce Springsteen	"The Fuse"	The Rising	2002	A smoldering blend of lust and loss, having sex as a means to feel anything after tragedy.
Springsteen, BruceBruce Springsteen	"The Rising"	The Rising	2002	"A religious-tinged reflection on the events of the day that focuses on a firefighter at Ground Zero."[2][33]
Springsteen, BruceBruce Springsteen	"You're Missing"	The Rising		About how a family must continue to function after the Father is killed in the attacks.
SR-71	"Truth"	Tomorrow	2002
Star Fucking Hipsters	"9/11 Was (An Inside Joke)"	Until We're Dead	2008
The Stills	"Let's Roll"	Logic Will Break Your Heart	2003
Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros	"Ramshackle Day Parade"	Streetcore	2003
Swift, TaylorTaylor Swift	"Didn't They?"
Sworn Enemy	"Sworn Enemy"
Tactical Sekt	"American Me"	Syncope	2006
Tesla	"Heaven Nine Eleven"	Into the Now
Testament	"The Evil Has Landed"	The Formation of Damnation	2008
Thrice	"Broken Lungs"	The Alchemy Index Vols. III & IV	2008
Thriving Ivory	"Angels on the Moon"	Thriving Ivory
Twista feat. Faith Evans	"Hope"	Kamikaze	2004	"Wish God never gave the men power/ To be able to hurt the people inside the Twin Towers" [34]
Vanderslice, JohnJohn Vanderslice	"Exodus Damage"	Pixel Revolt	2005	The second verse describes the narrator watching the second plane hitting the World Trade Center on television, as well as the lack of immediate military response to the attacks.[10]
Vega, SuzanneSuzanne Vega	"Anniversary"		2007
Velvet Revolver	"Messages"	Libertad (iTunes release)	2007
Walker, ScottScott Walker	"Jesse"	The Drift	2006	Presents the attack on the Twin Towers as a nightmare had by Elvis Presley and described to his own stillborn twin, Jesse Garon Presley.[35]
Warshaw, JackJack Warshaw	"United 93"	Good Road	2011	Lyrics include "United 93, remember their names Come tell of the time on that great silver plane The bravest band of travellers that ever flew the sky Said "We’re bound to fight ‘cause we know we’re bound to die." [36]
The Weepies	"Safe as Houses"
Wheatus	"Hometown"	TooSoonMonsoon	2005
Within Temptation	"Stand My Ground"	The Silent Force and also as additional tracks on some releases of the The Heart of Everything	2004
Worley, DarrylDarryl Worley	"Have You Forgotten?"	Have You Forgotten?	2003	The song is about the horror of the attacks, with lyrics including "Have you forgotten when those towers fell? / We had neighbors still inside going through a living hell."[3]
Wu-Tang Clan	"Rules"	Iron Flag	2001	[10]
Yellowcard	"Believe"	Ocean Avenue	2003	The song is about rescue workers, and integrates news reports.[11]
Young, NeilNeil Young	"Let's Roll"	Are You Passionate?	2001 - 2002 (album dates)

See also

• List of songs deemed inappropriate by Clear Channel following the September 11, 2001 attacks

References

1. "50 Cent - Patiently Waiting". RapGenius.
2. "Songs Inspired by 9/11". Spinner. AOL. 9 September 2011. Retrieved 1 December 2011.
3. Quay, Sara E.; Damico, Amy M. (2010), September 11 in Popular Culture: A Guide, ABC-CLIO, p. 222, ISBN 978-0-313-35505-9.
4. Wilson, MacKenzie. "Emilie Autumn". Allmusic. Retrieved August 11, 2010.
5. Elliot, Russell W. (October 15, 2003). "Emilie Autumn at Musical Discoveries". Musical Discoveries. Retrieved August 12, 2010.
6. "Beyoncé Talks 'A Star Is Born' And 'I Was Here' With Reuters | The Official Beyoncé Site". Beyoncé Knowles' Official Website. July 22, 2011. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
7. "Bloc Party Grows Up On Sophomore Album". Billboard. 5 May 2007. Archived from the original on February 5, 2008. Retrieved 1 April 2009.
8. Quay & Damico 2010, p. 223.
9. http://www.thefader.com/2002/05/27/coldplays-9-11-feelings-surface-on-i-a-rush-of-blood-to-the-head-i
10. Rendon, Alex (11 September 2011). "Ten Best September 11 Songs by Artists You Actually Like". Country Grind. Broward-Palm Beach New Times. Retrieved 1 December 2011.
11. Quay & Damico 2010, p. 221.
12. Wiederhorn, Jon (June 13, 2002). "Disturbed conjure fire, earthquakes for "Prayer" video". MTV. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
13. "Eminem - My Dad's Gone Crazy". RapGenius.
14. The Early Show, 9/10/11
15. Quay & Damico 2010, p. 218.
16. ""America" by Imagine Dragons".
17. Mansfield, Brian (November 21, 2001). "Inspiration awakens Jackson to country hit". USA Today. Retrieved June 2, 2007.
18. Jackson, Kristy. "Little Did She Know...Song". Retrieved September 11, 2012.
19. Jackson, Kristy. "Little Did She Know... Book". Retrieved September 11, 2012.
20. "Jackyl News - Yahoo! Music". Retrieved 13 August 2012.
21. Mansfield, Brian (June 13, 2002). "Singer Toby Keith speaks out on ABC censorship". USA Today. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
22. Deeds, Michael (Oct 26, 2003), A Shade Bolder, Living Colour is Back (Final ed.), The Washington Post, p. N.02, retrieved December 2, 2011.
23. Ian McEwan (November 20, 2001). "Only love and then oblivion. Love was all they had to set against their murderers". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
24. "Second McCartney song for New York". BBC News Online. November 5, 2001. Retrieved February 10, 2008.
25. http://audramcdonald.net/recording/go-back-home/
26. "Sarah McLachlan, Demystifying Her Muse", NPR.org
27. Angerer, S. "Megaherz am Scheideweg", EMP3 (article in German)
28. "Herzwerk II", GermanRock.de (article in German)
29. "Excite エキサイト : ミュージック (音楽)特集・MISIA" (in Japanese). Retrieved 2012-01-27.
30. Guillot, Claire (26 May 2005). "Manhattan-Kaboul". Le Monde (in French). Retrieved 4 December 2011.
31. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ou4K_i7nFCc
32. "Michael W. Smith :: News". Retrieved February 18, 2014.
33. Symynkywicz, Jeffery B. (2008). The Gospel According to Bruce Springsteen: Rock and Redemption, from Asbury Park to Magic. Westminster John Knox Press. pp. 150–151. ISBN 0-664-23169-1.
34. "Rapgenius". Genius Media Group Inc.
35. Williams, Ben (8 May 2006). "Elvis Dreams of 9/11". New York Magazine. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
36. "Good Road - United 93".