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9/11

"Alone Again" - Gilbert O'Sullivan

All this talk about the death of Osama Bin Laden took me back a decade. I remember waking up like any other day the morning of September 11, 2001. I was a writer for my college newspaper and had to submit an art story when I received the news that a high-rise building was being demolished somewhere in New York. Keep in mind this information came to me in pieces. I wasn't aware of which building and that many people were unfortunately stuck inside. Finally, a friend called (I can't remember who) and said, "Turn on the TV. The World Trade Center is going down."

I hate to admit my ignorance, but I thought this was just another project that I failed to notice because I rarely watch the news. I thought, "Ok so they're going through some restructuring..." I'm ashamed to say that at that moment someone needed to spoon-feed me a clue. I walked through the kitchen and into the living room. The TV was already on and the first image of a tall, smokey building made my jaw drop and before I could utter a sound, a second explosion came out of the second tower. People screamed. No one knew what had happened. It was the first unrehearsed newscast I witnessed and I didn't even see the plane. I had no idea planes were even involved. I just stood there, motionless. Everything that occurred thereafter was a blur. Suddenly, my art story didn't matter. Nothing mattered. And then the towers fell. And so did my heart.

This is the song that will always remind me of that devastating moment in history when the skyline of New York City was changed forever. The cover version sang by Vonda Shepard begins with an instrumental melody full of violins, but sadly her version is broken. It's a beautiful piece that I wish was included in the original, but it's painfully beautiful nonetheless.

Lyrics:

In a little while from now,
If I'm not feeling any less sour
I promised myself to treat myself
And visit a nearby tower,
And climbing to the top,
Will throw myself off
In an effort to make it clear to who
Ever what it's like when your shattered
Left standing in the lurch, at a church
Where people 're saying,
"My God that's tough, she stood him up!
No point in us remaining.
May as well go home."
As I did on my own,
Alone again, naturally

To think that only yesterday,
I was cheerful, bright and gay,
Looking forward to, but who wouldn't do,
The role I was about to play
But as if to knock me down,
Reality came around
And without so much as a mere touch,
Cut me into little pieces
Leaving me to doubt,
All about God and His mercy
For if He really does exist
Why did He desert me
In my hour of need?
I truly am indeed,
Alone again, naturally

It seems to me that
There are more hearts
Broken in the world
That can't be mended
Left unattended
What do we do? What do we do?

Now looking back over the years,
And whatever else that appears
I remember I cried when my father died
Never wishing to have cried the tears
And at sixty-five years old,
My mother, God rest her soul,
Couldn't understand, why the only man
She had ever loved had been taken
Leaving her to start with a heart
So badly broken
Despite encouragement from me
No words were ever spoken
And when she passed away
I cried and cried all day
Alone again, naturally
Alone again, naturally


http://www.lyrics007.com/Gilbert%20O'Sullivan%20Lyrics/Alone%20Again%20(Naturally)%20Lyrics.html
http://www.rhapsody.com/gilbert-osullivan

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