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.