Lyrics from We’ll Carry On 9/11 Benefit CD

1. TOMORROW
written & performed by Hughie Lynch ©2002 U. E. Lynch (FDNY Squad 1, Brooklyn, NY). recorded and mixed at Hank Murdoch Studios by Rich

it’s 3am – it’s time to go
we are here and you are home
you feel alone within your beds
and we are out the door again

I turn the corner fire’s out of control
there’s people dying why I just don’t know

so I reach out my hand
to do all I can
that one might live
tomorrow

and now I’m crawling down the hall
it’s too dark to see I find the door
“find my baby, find my child”
a desperate mother screaming wild

so I reach out my hand to do all I can
so that one might live
tomorrow

so that one might live tomorrow
so that one might live tomorrow
so that one might live tomorrow

the sun is up and life goes on
I’ll drink a toast to brothers gone
this time I’m coming home
but next time
I just don’t know

so I reach out my hand to do all I can
so that one might live
tomorrow

so that one might live tomorrow
so that one might live tomorrow
so that one might live tomorrow
so that one might live tomorrow

so that one might live
tomorrow

2. HOLE IN THE SKY
written by Marc Blatte ©2001 Jump Start Music (BMI)
produced by Jean Neary, arranged by Eddie Martinez, lead vocal by David Patillo
from the CD “Aftermath – Songs of a new New York”

there’s a gaping hole in the great big soul of this town
since the walls came tumbling, the walls came tumbling down

and the people that I pass in the street are walking in disbelief
and the sirens ring and the ashes fall all around

there’s a hole in the sky over me
everybody everywhere
it’s a 911 emergency

there’s a hole in the sky over me
everybody take good care
someday love is gonna set us free

people walking to the river where the boat will take them to the otherside
and the trains still running down below, take it if you need a ride

but i’m just staying here, waiting for the fire and smoke to clear
and i’ll wait and wait and wait, wait until my tears are dried

there’s a hole in the sky over me
everybody everywhere
it’s a 911 emergency

there’s a hole in the sky over me
everybody take good care
someday love is gonna set us free

3. WEIGHT OF THE WORLD
written by Eric Milano & Christopher Pickford (died 9/11, FDNY Engine 201)
©2001 Eric Milano/Christopher Pickford (ASCAP)
from the CD “A Tribute: Christopher Pickford”, performed entirely by Eric Milano
recorded, mixed, produced 10/2001 at Frisson Studios, NYC by Eric Milano

My Friend, you promised to come see me to day.
But the weight of the world was blocking your way
And now everything’s lost and your life you just tasted.
The weight of the world left blocking the way.

And the weeks and the months feel like one long day
Can’t help but think somehow, I must be to blame
And the weight of the world is left blocking the way.
The weight of the world left blocking the way.

In dreams at night, the scenes replay.
Different each time, but the theme’s the same

My friend my brother, you were never afraid
The weight of the world couldn’t scare you away.
My friend, my brother, whom we tried to save.
But the weight of the world was blocking the way.

And me I am sluggish, but you could always display
How life it is precious, how we must not delay
But now all your secrets as secrets remain
The weight of the world left blocking their way

It seems more right when the music plays
When all the knots in my mind unravel and break.

My friend. my brother
There’s nothing more to say.
Because the weight of the world is blocking the way.

4. THE MEN
poem by Norma Hardy (PAPD) ©2001 N. Hardy/music by Valerie Ghent (WTC Ground Zero Relief)
©2002 V.Ghent/N.Hardy/Cavos Music (ASCAP), performed by Valerie Ghent – piano/vocals
recorded by Rich Tapper at Battery Studios 4/18/02, produced & mixed by Valerie Ghent

I’ve met stronger men I’m sure
I just don’t remember when
With barreled chests and big strong arms
to carry our brothers in

I wish my shoulders now
were even more widely spread
so I could hold the grief we bear
and not waver from the dread

I’ve seen young men with tears in their eyes
they stand so tall, yet broken
and when we have to say goodbye
the words remain unspoken

we need to feel there’s something
on which we can rely
and in our hours of anguish
we look up to the sky

and through the tears we shed
the wonders from above
remind us that we’re here to show undying love

sometimes I think about the fact
that I’ve been truely blessed
for I have been called one of the men
an honor, nothing less

I’ve stood in the company of greatness
heard stories of children and wives
all from ordinary men
who were just trying to live their lives

now I hear words like hero
and it touches me within
for I’ve broken bread with heroes
but to me they are “the men”

I feel that now’s the time
to get my message to
the men who I see daily
their greatness shines through

the pipers who respond
to our fallen brothers rites
they’re exhausted and so weary
yes they play with so much might

I know there’ll come a time
when we will all meet again
god’s light will shine around us
but we must wait till then

now we say goodbye to our poet, a prankster,
a preacher and a friend
all of those we hold dear in our hearts
we say goodbye to “the men”

5. THERE IS A LIGHT
written by Greg Parr 12/7/01 (FDNY 58 Eng/Lad 26 – The Fire Factory)
©2001 G. Parr (ASCAP) performed, recorded & mixed by Greg Parr

As I take you to – our city of heroes – bow your head and say a prayer
For the friends we knew ? in this place ground zero
For the towers that filled the air_______

There’s a light – that fills the deepest shadow
There’s a grace – that comforts all our sorrow
There’s a faith – that believes and sees tomorrow
And a strength to carry on ________

There’s a light – to lead us through the darkness no one knows
& we’ll see you in our dreams – in the canyons of our heroes

All the faces who – were taken so sudden – all the names and lives they made
They were brother, father, mother, sister, husband, wife and children –
Whose love will never fade_______

There’s a light – that fills the deepest shadow
There’s a grace – that comforts all our sorrow
There’s a faith – that believes and sees tomorrow
And a strength to carry on ________

There’s a light – to lead us through the darkness no one knows
& we’ll hold you in our dreams – in the canyons of our heroes

As I take you to ? their places kept – through jagged range that cuts the sky
I will tell you true, here devils cried & angels wept
– their faces asking why_______

There’s a light – that fills the deepest shadow
There’s a grace – that comforts all our sorrow
There’s a hope – that will heal us to the marrow
– & the strength to carry on____

There’s a light – to lead us through this darkness no one knows
& there’s a peace to calm us when the harshest winds may blow
We may bend & lashed, may bleed ? but we’ll go on_______

And from the garden of our tears – fill the canyons of our heroes
I will love you all my years – & see you in the canyons of our heroes.

6. WAITING FOR THE SNOW
music by Ann Klein/lyrics by Ann Klein & Phillip Levine Nov. 2001 ©2001 A. Klein (BMI)
performed by: Ann Klein- guitars, vocals; Klaus Kircher- bass; Robert Kainar- drums,
percussion; from the CD “Waiting for the Snow”, produced by Ann, Klaus & Robert

I am home in New York City
I have lived here most of my life
It is late in November
And I crave signs of white

There is nothing quite like a blizzard
On the streets of this town
The silence is delicious
You can hear every little sound

**I’m JUST WAITING, PERCOLATING
I’m JUST WAITING FOR THE SNOW

Shovels clearing the sidewalks
Chains on the plough
Air as fresh as an infant
Won’t you cleanse us of our sorrow now

**I’m JUST WAITING, PERCOLATING
I’m JUST WAITING FOR THE SNOW
**I’m JUST WAITING, PERCOLATING
I’m JUST WAITING FOR THE SNOW

Instrumental

Covered in heavy layers
Grounded by the weight
I have made it through the autumn
Now I’m standing at winter’s gate

**I’m JUST WAITING, PERCOLATING
I’m JUST WAITING FOR THE SNOW
**I’m JUST WAITING, PERCOLATING
I’m JUST WAITING FOR THE SNOW

7. WHERE IS GOD?
written & performed by Leni Stern- guitar & vocals – with band ©2002 L. Stern (SESAC/GEMA)
from the CD “Finally the Rain Has Come”, produced by Leni Stern & George Whitty

The air is filled with smoke
The smell of fire surrounds us
it’s entering our homes
The face of evil is obvious

Chorus
Where is god, where is god
And all his angels singing
Where is god
My end, my beginning
Where is god?

When our sadness is so deep, we could all drown in it
When our hearts are so heavy we can’t sleep
When the face of any stranger looks beautiful
And the end of the day brings no relief

Where is god?.

And in my dreams you came to see me
Something told me who you are
you brought fear, you brought destruction
You made the towers fall
And in my dreams I hear you asking
Am I a hero, loved by all?
You’re the ghost that burned my city
And in my dreams I hear you call

Where is god?

And I wonder did you feel
For all the people trapped inside
Did you see you mother’s face
Did you call out god is great
I wonder did you cry

Where is god?

8. ENGINE 73
written by Kathleen Pemble Oct 2001 ©2001 K. Pemble
recorded live at The Towne Crier, Pawling, NY 3/2002 by Kim Galibert,
performed by: Kathleen Pemble- guitar, lead vocals, Ali Chambliss- percussion, back up vocals, LeRoy Hankins- Keyboard, back up vocals, Marc Von Em- lead guitar, back up vocals, produced by Kathleen Pemble

We all draw our own conclusions
But you may not have seen the men lining up in blue
And we all know someone who knows someone who
But you may not have one – who’s coming home to you from…

There, the fire is still burning
There you are still digging through,
There, every day you are standing
Everyday you are falling
and you have your brothers waiting there for you

Every man there is somebody’s baby
And someone’s tender heart to rest upon
Every man among you held his head up high
Walked into the sky
You think of them as gone, but there are…

There, the fire is still burning
There you are still digging through,
There, every day you are standing
Everyday you are falling
and you have your brothers waiting there for you

I don’t think about the bigger picture
I don’t think about you coming home
I don’t think about how fragile we all are
I don’t think about flesh and bone…

There, the fire is still burning
There you are still digging through,
There, every day you are standing
Everyday you are falling
and you have your brothers waiting there for you

9. SACRIFICE
written by Thomas Ferranola (FDNY E163, NYC) ©2001
performed by August Moon: Joe Gansas on drums, Mike Gansas on accoustic guitar & bass, Thomas Ferranola vocals recorded Oct. 2001, produced by August Moon

do you believe in heroes well i certainly do
i’ve seen them die for me and you
do you believe in angels yes i certainly do
i’ve seen them rise in the red white and blue
Sacrifice so unselfish so sad so beautiful
close your eyes and listen my friend
cause these brave hearts have spoken
because of what they’ve done
we remain unbroken
what more can anybody do than die for you
for the red white and blue
through the dust through the fire
can you see the spirits rise
into the sky over you
i believe that God is kind yeah God is good
he’ll wrap thier souls in red white and blue
sacrifice so unselfish so sad yet so beautiful

close your eyes and listen my friend……

sometimes i know that we all get scared
i’m here to tell you
we’ve got to stay together pray together fight together
and remember those fallen Angels
who died for me who died for you
do you believe in heroes yes i certainly do
i’ve seen them die for me and you

10. WHATCHA GONNA DO?
written & produced by Stanley Brown ©2001 Stanbrown Music (BMI); co-produced by James Clark, rap by Dice, vocals by Jack King, Tuluv Price; from CD “Aftermath Songs of a new NY”

lyrics to come

11. HOPE
words by Elisa Peimer/music by Elisa Peimer & Shelly Riff ©2000 Hope
Tunes (ASCAP)
from the CD: “Shed This Skin”;
performed by Elisa Peimer vocals, acoustic guitar; Shelly Riff keyboards; Paul Cabri guitar; Artie Baguer bass; Scott Miller drums; Yael Shacham percussion; recorded by Sue Fisher at Wombat Studios, Bklyn, NY;
produced by Elisa Peimer & Sue Fisher

Another page has turned
Another bridge has burned
What is the lesson learned this time

I stare into the sun
To try and blind my eyes
Instead I see a shadow of its light

And when nothing is left in this world for me
And the journey is left to an endless sea
There is

Hope

And when there’s no way out
The barrel of this gun
You throw your weapons down and run
I don’t know what this means
don’t think I ever will
That’s when I close my eyes and be still

And when nothing is left in this world for me
And the journey is left to an endless sea
There is

Hope

Lead on I will follow
Fireworks will be here tomorrow
I will beg steal or borrow
But I’m not gonna lay down
No I’m not gonna lay down
When there is

Hope

12. FLY OUR FLAG HIGH
written by Chris O’Brien on 9/14/01 ©2001 Chris O’Brien (BMI)
Performed by Chris O’Brien and the Tequila Rose Band
Chris O’Brien-Lead Vocals/Bass Guitar
Khris Dodge-Keyboards
Bob Heckman-Electric Guitar
Patrick O’Brien-Acoustic Guitar
Marty Acuna-Drums
Michelle Munoz-Harmony Vocals
Recorded on 9/16/01 in my parents living room. (Chris and Diane O’Brien)
Produced by Jim Labukas, Chris O’Brien, and Patrick O’Brien

The pride of a Nation was tested today
A United Nation, the U.S.A.
I share a tear with those who cried,
And I’ll live my life for those who died

America speaks every time it’s spoken to
America bleeds Red, White, and Blue

Let’s join hands together
United it’s forever
Hold your head up high

Prayers to families
Who will send their sons across the seas.
May you be in God’s Eyes,
And fly our Flag high

The pride of a Nation shined true today
America made it another day
Americans speak every time they’re spoken to
Americans breathe Red, White & Blue

13. SANCTIFIED
written & performed by Elizabeth Jordan November 2001; ©2002 Confetti
Factory Music (BMI)
recorded at Magic Music Studios; produced by Harold Stephan/Elizabeth Jordan

The day the world stood still, they said a prayer, and said good-bye
Trusting that God’s loving eyes would be their only guide
Like birds without wings they flew, from death to life anew

SANCTIFIED, holy ground
In these ashes, angels now
Washed by a million tears
Blessed by our broken hearts
Healed by arms open wide
SANCTIFIED

Each day, the earth still turns, the rising sun still greets the land
Mercy in a passing smile, a stranger’s helping hand
Hope in the morning light, as we are all made new

CHORUS

I still cry out with questions unspoken
But deep in my soul, I know that God holds them

CHORUS

14. ALL AMERICAN
written by Larry May and Lance Jordan 9/15/01; ©2001 L. May/L. Jordan
performed by
Larry May: 12-string acoustic guitar & vocal
Lance Jordan: electric guitars, bass & backing vocals
Asaf Shor: drums
Recorded by L. Jordan @ BlueNova Music, NYC
Produced by L. May @ L. Jordan

We’re all american, together we stand this is our land
We’re all american, together as one we shine like the sun
we’re strong, we’re strong, we’re strong

Smoke can’t cloud our way of finding hope hereafter
ashes and debris can’t cover up our chance for laughter
they dig through the night and try to find our friends and brothers
we hold on tight, to the flag and to each other

We’re all american, together we stand this is our land
We’re all american, together as one we shine like the sun
we’re strong, we’re strong, we’re strong

Give our leaders strength to make the right decisions
we can’t ever fail armed with justice and precision
we walk in the sky with memories of those who left us
the battle never cries if we pull together shoulder to shoulder

We’re all american, together we stand this is our land
We’re all american, together as one we shine like the sun

I see a day when all the people have no fear
we can create a peaceful world the time is near

We’re all american, together we stand this is our land
We’re all american, together as one we shine like the sun
we’re strong, we’re strong, we’re strong

15. THE WORD IS LOVE
written & performed by Rosalinde Block (volunteer massage therapist/Engine 40/Ladder 35) ©1987 Rosiejane Music (ASCAP)
guest vocalist: Bil Kurz

In this world we’ve got the choice to live together
Hand in hand we can weather the storm
But instead we go to war
And after wars are lost and won
After all is said and done
When push comes to shove
THE WORD IS LOVE

We can fight for our rights – wear our colors
Doesn’t matter – we’re just crying to be free
But the way we go about it
Is the opposite of how we’re supposed to work it out
Let’s take off the gloves
THE WORD IS LOVE

Love is the key to the Kingdom
Silently spoken through our eyes – through our minds
Let us leave the past behind
And speak with our hearts
And make a new start
There’s no other answer ’cause love is the answer to life

City streets
The city beats to something frightening
It’s a lightening that’s cracked through the town
And it’s striking people down
But we can turn this one around
By showing what we’ve found
From Heaven above
THE WORD IS LOVE

16. WE’LL CARRY ON
written by Valerie Ghent (WTC Ground Zero Relief) 9.15.01 ©2001 V. Ghent/Cavos Music (ASCAP)
performed by Valerie Ghent – piano/vocal, recorded 9.18.01 at Hot Sound Studios, NYC
produced and mixed by Valerie Ghent

can you hear us
cause we hear you
can you feel us
cause we feel you
can you see us
cause oh we see you
everywhere and in everything we do

we’ll carry on
we’ll carry on
we’ll carry on – as long as we can
we’ll carry on

and though we survivors
we walk the streets
stare into
each others eyes
as we search for connection
to feel that we’re alive
though part of us has died
yes deep down part of us has died

every morning
every night
we look downtown
there’s no light
yet we feel your presence
we feel your weight
we feel your souls as they alight
if it’s any comfort
as you watch from there
I hope you see how much we care
and know we carry you with every breath of air

we’ll carry on – as long as we can
we’ll carry on – doing what we can
we’ll carry on – even if we don’t know how
we’ll carry on

for those who are left
to face the truth
no one knows
all we fear
no one knows
where we’re gonna go from here
but we’ll carry on
we’ll carry on – even if we’re scared
we’ll carry on – we carry you in our prayers
we’ll carry on
we’ll carry on