9-11 United in Courage & Grief

Beyond the door, there's peace I'm sure
And I know there'll be no more tears in heaven

The collection of lyrics (or excerpts) come from those that have struck me the most during the past two weeks, combined with several that we have on the website that deal specifically with grief, comfort and saying good-byes. Some of the songs are older patriotic songs that have helped to unite the country in music. Other songs help to express the grief, the memories and the hopes and sung at the various memorials or the "Tributes to Heroes." Several of the songs have been remixed or are being re-released in the aftermath of the tragedy.

The lyrics are arranged in an order to go from grieving through a transition of hope for our future to healing phase with resolve, courage, an enhanced sense of community and remembering the heroes.
 

Fragile
Perhaps this final act was meant
To clinch a lifetime's argument
That nothing comes from violence
and nothing ever could
For all those born beneath an angry star
Lest we forget how fragile we are

On and on the rain will fall
Like tears from a star
Like tears from a star

On and on the rain will say
How fragile we are
How fragile we are

Would you hold my hand, if I saw you in heaven?
Would you help me stand, if I saw you in heaven?
I'll find my way through night and day
'Cause I know I just can't stay here in heaven

Beyond the door, there's peace I'm sure
And I know there'll be no more tears in heaven

Would you know my name, if I saw you in heaven?
Would you be the same, if I saw you in heaven?
I must be strong and carry on
'Cause I know I don't belong here in heaven

Spend all your time waiting for that second chance
For the break that will make it okay.
There's always some reason to feel not good enough
And it's hard at the end of the day.
I need some distraction, oh beautiful release

Memory seeps from my veins.
Let me be empty and weightless and maybe
I'll find some peace tonight.

In the arms of the angels, fly away from here.
From this dark cold hotel room, and the endlessness that you fear.
You are pulled from the wreckage of your silent reverie.
You're in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort here.

When you're weary, feelin' small,
when tears are in your eyes, I'll dry them all.
I'm on your side oh, when times get rough and friends just can't be found.
Like a bridge over troubled water, I will lay me down.
Like a bridge over troubled water, I will lay me down.

When you're down and out, when you're on the street,
when evening falls so hard I will comfort you.
I'll take your part, oh, when darkness comes and pain is all around.
Like a bridge over troubled water, I will lay me down.
Like a bridge over troubled water, I will lay me down.

Sail on silver girl, sail on by.
Your time has come to shine. All your dreams are on their way.
See how they shine, Oh, if you need a friend I'm sailing right behind.
Like a bridge over troubled water, I will ease your mind.
Like a bridge over troubled water, I will ease your mind.

...You were all that mattered
...Then my world was shattered.

Wishing you were somehow here again
Wishing you were somehow near
Sometime it seemed,
If I just dreamed,
Somehow you would be here

Wishing I could hear your voice again
Knowing that I never would
Dreaming of you won't help me to do
All that you dreamed I could.

Too many years
Fighting back tears
Why can't the past just die?

Wishing you were somehow here again
Knowing we must say good bye
Try to forgive
Teach me to live
Give me the strength to try

...Help me say good-bye.

Amazing Grace! How Sweet the Sound
That saved a soul like me!
I once was lost, but now am found.
Was blind, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

When we've been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we'd first begun.

I believe that children are our future
Teach them well and let them lead the way
Show them all the beauty they possess inside
Give them a sense of pride to make it easier
Let the children's laughter
Remind us how we used to be

Bless the beasts and the children
For in this world they have no voice
They have no choice.

Bless the beasts and the children
For this world can never be
The world they see...

Light their way
When the darkness surrounds them
Give them love
Let it shine all around them.

Bless the beasts and the children
Give them shelter from the storm
Keep them safe
Keep them warm.

You have to be taught
Before it's too late.
Before you are six or seven or eight
to hate all the people your relatives hate.
You have to be carefully taught.

Careful the things you say
Children will listen
Careful the things you do
Children will see and learn
Children may not obey
But children will listen

Children will look to you
For which way to turn
To learn how to be
Careful before you say
Listen to me
Children will listen

Careful the things you say
Careful the tale you tell
Children will listen

Nothing's gonna harm, you not while I'm around
No one's gonna hurt you, no one's gonna dare
Demons are prowling every where, nowadays
I'll send 'em howling I don't care, I got ways
...Nothing can harm you, not while I'm around

Imagine there's no heaven,
It's easy if you try.
No Hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the People,
Living for today.

Imagine there's no countries,
It isn't hard to do.
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too.
Imagine all the People
Living life in Peace.

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can.
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man.
Imagine all the people
sharing all the world.

You may say that I'm a dreamer
but I'm not the only one.
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will live as one.

When you walk through a storm
Hold your head up high
And don't be afraid of the dark
At the end of the storm
Is a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of a lark

Walk on through the wind
Walk on through the rain
Tho' your dreams be tossed and blown
Walk on, walk on
With hope in your heart
And you'll never walk alone
You'll never walk alone

God Bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Through the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, My home sweet home.

If tomorrow all the things were gone
I'd worked for all my life,
And I had to start again
with just my children and my wife,
I'd thank my lucky stars
to be living here today,
'Cause the flag still stands for freedom
and they can't take that away.

I'm proud to be an American
where at least I know I'm free,
And I won't forget the men who died
who gave that right to me,
And I gladly stand up next to you
and defend her still today,
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land
God Bless the U.S.A.

Oh, say can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

You are the Wind Beneath My Wings

You might have thought it went unnoticed
but I've got it all here in my heart.
I want you to know I know the truth
That I would be nothing without you.

Did you ever know that you're my hero
and everything that I'd like to be.
I can fly higher than an eagle,
'cause you are the Wind beneath my Wings.

There's a hero
If you look inside your heart
You don't have to be afraid
Of what you are
There's an answer
If you reach into your soul
And the sorrow that you know
Will melt away

And then a hero comes along
With the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside
And you know you can survive
So when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside you and be strong
And you'll finally see the truth
That a hero lies in you

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In Memory of all those lost and forever missing from the events on September 11, 2001, the day our world changed.
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