Music Video

Alan Jackson - Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning) (Official Audio)
Watch Alan Jackson - Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning) (Official Audio) on YouTube

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Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS
Alan Jackson
Alan Jackson
Lead Vocals
Eddie Bayers
Eddie Bayers
Drums
Carl Gorodetzky
Carl Gorodetzky
Violin
Monisa Angell
Monisa Angell
Viola
Pamela Sixfin
Pamela Sixfin
Violin
Alan Umstead
Alan Umstead
Violin
Lee Larrison
Lee Larrison
Violin
Jim Grosjean
Jim Grosjean
Viola
Dave Angell
Dave Angell
Violin
David Davidson
David Davidson
Violin
Kristin Wilkinson
Kristin Wilkinson
Viola
Catherine Umstead
Catherine Umstead
Violin
Conni Ellisor
Conni Ellisor
Violin
Brent Mason
Brent Mason
Electric Guitar
John Wesley Ryles
John Wesley Ryles
Background Vocals
Gary Vanosdale
Gary Vanosdale
Viola
Bob Mason
Bob Mason
Cello
Gordon Mote
Gordon Mote
Piano
Bev Crompton
Bev Crompton
String Instrument
Adele Armin
Adele Armin
Violin
Carol Fujino
Carol Fujino
Violin
Marie Gelinas
Marie Gelinas
Cello
Sheldon Grabke
Sheldon Grabke
String Instrument
Bridget Hunt
Bridget Hunt
Violin
Fujiko Imajishi
Fujiko Imajishi
Violin
Dominique Laplante
Dominique Laplante
Violin
Ron Mah
Ron Mah
Violin
Robert Miskey
Robert Miskey
Violin
Wendy Rose
Wendy Rose
Violin
Marc-Andre Savoie
Marc-Andre Savoie
Violin
Mark Skazinetsky
Mark Skazinetsky
Violin
Bozena Szubert
Bozena Szubert
Violin
Aarne Tammisaar
Aarne Tammisaar
Violin
Vera Tarnowsky
Vera Tarnowsky
Violin
Elaine & Derek Thompson
Elaine & Derek Thompson
Cello
Angelique Toews
Angelique Toews
Violin
Paul Widner
Paul Widner
Cello
Paul Franklin
Paul Franklin
Steel Guitar
Glenn Worf
Glenn Worf
Bass
Stuart Duncan
Stuart Duncan
Fiddle
Bruce Watkins
Bruce Watkins
Acoustic Guitar
Mi Hyon Kim
Mi Hyon Kim
Violin
Annalee Patipatanakoon
Annalee Patipatanakoon
Violin
Audrey King
Audrey King
Cello
Carol Neuen Rabinowitz
Carol Neuen Rabinowitz
Cello
Kirk Worthington
Kirk Worthington
Cello
Matthew McCauley
Matthew McCauley
Conductor
The Nashville String Machine
The Nashville String Machine
String Ensemble
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Alan Jackson
Alan Jackson
Songwriter
Matthew McCauley
Matthew McCauley
String Arranger
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Keith Stegall
Keith Stegall
Producer
Gary Gray
Gary Gray
Strings Engineer
Williams Hank
Williams Hank
Mastering Engineer
John Kelton
John Kelton
Mixing Engineer

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Where were you when the world stopped turning
On that September day?
Were you in the yard with your wife and children
Or working on some stage in L.A.?
Did you stand there in shock at the sight of that black smoke
Rising against that blue sky?
Did you shout out in anger in fear for your neighbor
Or did you just sit down and cry?
[Verse 2]
Did you weep for the children who lost their dear loved ones
And pray for the ones who don't know?
Did you rejoice for the people who walked from the rubble
And sob for the ones left below?
Did you burst out with pride for the red, white and blue
And the heroes who died just doing what they do?
Did you look up to heaven for some kind of answer
And look at yourself and what really matters?
[Chorus]
I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you
The difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith, hope and love are some good things he gave us
And the greatest is love
[Verse 3]
Where were you when the world stopped turning
On that September day?
Teaching a class full of innocent children
Or driving down some cold interstate?
Did you feel guilty 'cause you're a survivor?
In a crowded room, did you feel alone?
Did you call up your mother and tell her you loved her?
Did you dust off that Bible at home?
[Verse 4]
Did you open your eyes, hope it never happened?
Close your eyes and not go to sleep?
Did you notice the sunset the first time in ages
Or speak to some stranger on the street?
Did you lay down at night and think of tomorrow?
Go out and buy you a gun?
Did you turn off that violent old movie you're watching
And turn on "I Love Lucy" reruns?
[Verse 5]
Did you go to a church and hold hands with some strangers?
Stand in line and give your own blood?
Did you just stay home and cling tight to your family?
Thank God you had somebody to love?
[Chorus]
I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you
The difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith, hope and love are some good things he gave us
And the greatest is love
[Chorus]
I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you
The difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith, hope and love are some good things he gave us
And the greatest is love
[Outro]
And the greatest is love
And the greatest is love
Where were you when the world stopped turning
On that September day?
Written by: Alan Jackson
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