Social Relevance through loss through Country Music

"Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)" by: Alan Jackson

Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turing) is a very emotional song. It has to do with the tragedy of 9/11. On that day, I watched the whole thing on T.V. in my classroom in Kentucky. I did not know what was really going on; I just knew that it was not a good thing. When I got older, I heard this song on the radio and it really made me think about 9/11 more. I did not even know what was happening that day; the day that many people lost their loved ones. To this day people are talking about it, and who is to blame for the whole thing. I do not understand why people are so wrapped up in the blame. It should not matter who did it. What should matter is how we went through the whole situation, and how we united as a nation. Even though we do not have our twin towers, we do have a stronger and more connected country compared to before the tragedy. I do not know if our country would be any different today if 9/11 did not happen, but I think it is a strong memory which we can always remember through this song.


"If You're Reading This" by: Tim McGraw

If You’re Reading this is a song about a man that dies in the war and the song is a letter he writes to his wife. Right now, my brother is in the war doing Airborne for the army in Texas. He does not have a wife or anything, but it makes me think of who he would write to and what he would say. I do not get to talk to him much, but my mom does all the time. He has to “take care of the border.” He loves making jokes, and his sergeants love him. He is so happy to be fighting for his country, which makes all of us happy. He loves his family with all his heart and soul. I think he would write a letter to all of us, but will say something different to each of us. I do not know what he would write to me. I think all he would say is that he loves me and hopes I do not make the same failures in life that he did. He has always looked out for me and taken care of me, because he knows that my sister did not succeed, and I am now my family’s last hope. I just hope I do not fail him.


"Jesus, Take The Wheel" by: Carrie Underwood

Jesus, Take the Wheel, is a song that talks about personal tragedies and religion. I am not the biggest fan of religion. I will never understand why people would put their lives into something that does not exist. If you see your life flash before your eyes right before a car runs into you, how many people will really fold their hands and say a prayer to “God?” My mother and I have many different views when it comes to religion and we argue about it a lot. This also makes me think of my friend Emily Lynnn Smith. She got in a car crash on her way to the airport in Ohio to come visit her mom and I. It was a really rainy night and it was her and her dad. Her dad was in the passenger seat. Before they knew it, an 18-wheeler comes and hits the driver side of the car. Emily was killed and her father is paralyzed for life. Even though I do not believe in God, when I heard this song, all I thought was, “I hope she said a prayer of forgiveness for all her wrongs, just in case Heaven is real.” Rest In Peace Emily.

Self-written Songs

My Reality Nightmare


It's dark and I'm tired
So I'll say goodnight
And sleep this night away

All of a sudden
I hear someone upstairs
They are moving closer to my resting place

I can hear them coming near me
I don't know what to do
So I just stay in a fake slumber

I can tell it's a man
By the way he loves me
And he just can't control it

My blankets are off of me
I can feel his breath on me
I can hear the zipping of his pants,
And the zipping of my innocence

I can tell it's a man
By the way he is speaking
He's saying he loves me
And he just can't control it

I wake to him
Deep down inside me
It just doesn't make sense

I know who he is
By the note that he left for me
Oh Father! Why Father!
Why would you do this to me?

I can tell it's a man
By the way he is speaking
He's saying he loves me
And he just can't control it

Then I wake up
To find it a dream...
To find it a nightmare

It made me go crazy
But I got over it
Now I'm just sitting
All by myself singing...

I thought it was a man
By the way he was speaking
I swore he said he loves me
And he just can't control it

But I was wrong...
But I was wrong...
But I was wrong...

"The World in Six Songs"

The six songs mentioned in the book "The World in Six Songs" is, friendship, joy, comfort, knowledge, religion, and love.

Friendship:
My Best Friend by: Tim McGraw

"I don't know where I'd be
Without you here with me
Life with you makes perfect sense
You're my best friend"


Joy:
Brand New Girlfriend by: Steve Holy

"I love it when she calls me buttercup.
She laughs and says I left the toilet seat up.
She pops a top for me a cold beer,
And says my buddy's always welcome here.
When I get hungry she takes me out
I'm ridin shotgun like a shitzeu hound,
My tails waggin' my tongue's hangin' out"


Comfort:
Good Morning Beautiful by: Steve Holy

"Good morning beautiful how was your night
Mine was wonderful with you by my side
And when I open my eyes and see your sweet face
Its a good morning beautiful day"


Knowledge:
Stand by: Rascal Flatts

"You feel like a candle in a hurricane
Just like a picture with a broken frame
Alone and helpless, like you've lost your fight
But you'll be alright, you'll be alright"


Religion:
That's What I Love About Sunday by: Craig Morgan

"That's what I love about Sunday
Sing along as the choir sways
Every verse of "Amazing Grace"
And then we shake the preacher's hand
Go home into your blue jeans
Have some chicken and some baked beans
Pick a backyard football team
Not do much of anything
That's what I love about Sunday"


Love:
Wrapped Up In You by: Garth Brooks

"How do I love you
Well count the ways
There ain't no number high enough to end this phrase
baby, completely, wrapped up in you."