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Perhaps the most provocative and stirring September 11 tribute was written by country artist Alan Jackson. In "Where Were You?," Jackson details various reactions (from buying a gun to praying for strangers) exhibited by Americans when they heard the news.

The song is the first single from Jackson's album Drive, which will be released January 15. In recent weeks, the song has been on constant rotation at country stations, has been Jackson's quickest song to reach the Billboard top five, and has received glowing praise. In fact, the song's lyrics have been entered into the official U.S. Congressional Record.

"Did you call up your mother and tell her you love her? Did you dust off that Bible at home?" the lyrics ask. "Or did you just sit down and cry?"

As Jackson asks these questions, his chorus reveals where he found the answer that day:

I'm just a singer of simple songs; / I'm not a real political man … / 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.

Todd Hertz is the assistant online editor for Christianity Today.

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December (Web-only) 2001, Vol. 45