As I flew to see my friend
I had no clue this was the end
Though I know life goes on my friend
Please don’t forget
Remember Me…
The song opening is simply setting the stage on the unexpected nature of this tragedy. Flying to see a friend became the last activity of this person’s life. Though life seems to always find a way to move on - here is a request, a reminder, for us to take some time, once in a while, some time to remember. “Remember Me…”
Off to work, kissed my wife
Oh how precious is this life
Who’d have thought, who’d have known
How could this be?
Made the call, we’ve been hit
And I don’t think I’ll make it
Kiss the girls, live your life
Remember Me…
The first verse of the song is from the perspective of a person in the first tower hit. A person who has discovered that, for them, there is no way out. He spends the last moments of his life leaving a message on his home answering machine, a message for his family; a message for his wife and three daughters. He wants her to “kiss the girls” and to make sure they know how much Daddy loves them. He wants her to know that she should live her life to the fullest and seek happiness. There were many other tragic stories, this was written as one story of thousands, one touching event among so many.
We won’t forget the moment
Freedom was changed forever
In a single day, so much pain
This cowardly act can’t break us
The lives lost will somehow make us
Stronger than before
At our core - United We Stand
We should not ever forget this tragic day, this day that changed the view of freedom throughout the world, and all the pain that was experienced. That being said, the main message that should be taken from this, the chorus, is that “This cowardly act can’t break us” and that “The lives lost will somehow make us stronger than before”. We will get through this together. We will be stronger. Family to family, neighbor to neighbor, city to city, state to state, country to country, faith to faith, “United We Stand”.
Made the call to say good-bye
Somehow I know it’s time to die
Yet looking out across the sky
I’m proud I’m free
Got the news there’s not just one
Decided something must be done
We will fight, gotta run
Remember Me…
The second verse is from the perspective of a person on flight 93. Even in the midst of this unimaginable situation, he takes the time to look out across the sky, one last time, to see the beauty of nature and to appreciate freedom. Upon reaching his loved one, he is informed of what has already taken place and understands this is not an isolated incident. A decision is made to make a stand, to fight.
Get the call, save the day
It’s not just why I get paid
You run out while I run in
That’s my way
Runnin’ up, helping others down
There was no time to turn around
In a flash, I’m tumblin’ down
Remember Me…
The third verse is from the perspective of one of the emergency first responders. The “You run out while I run in” concept is not just due to their profession, but is rather a part of who the people who choose to serve in this profession are. They truly gave their all to save others, and “in a flash”, they gave their life. This is the story of one, but as we so unfortunately know, they were one of so many.
Fought the war, served my time
Had my share of the front line
Earned the right not to fight
Safe at last
So I thought, ‘til I saw it come
There was no place that I could run
Close my eyes, my duty’s done
Remember Me…
The fourth verse is the story of a career solider. A solider who served on the front lines of many wars in order to earn an opportunity to have a desk job at the Pentagon, something he had been striving towards for a long time - “Safe at last”. His days in the ‘danger zone’ were finally in the past, he thought. However, the front lines came to him, and in doing so, took his life. He, like many others, served his country by making this ultimate sacrifice, by paying this ultimate price - “Close my eyes, my duty’s done”.
As I flew to see my friend
I had no clue this was the end
What to do, what words to send
One last call
So I vowed, you’ll be fine
Tell him I’m proud, that son of mine
Though life goes on I know in time
Please don’t forget
Remember Me…
The song closing continues the story of the opening… the person flying to see their friend. Realizing what is happening, they have the chance to make one last call, to leave one last message, and so they do. Thinking of their family more than themselves, they tell them they will be OK. They tell them to tell their son they are proud. Though they know and appreciate that life will find a way to move on, in time - they offer a request, a reminder, for us to take some time, once in a while, some time to remember. “Remember Me…”
