We were living in Milford, Connecticut on 9/11/2001, and I had been working for CBS so went to NYC a lot. This is a beautiful song abou a very sad day. I have seen Lucy perform with Richard Shindell at Fairfield University. Best tribute I have seen after all these years.
We took our children to see Lucy and Jeb Loy Nichols perform on the plaza at the World Trade Center in August, 2001, just a few weeks before the towers fell. A beautiful song and I thank my daughter for the revisit today, on the 17th anniversary of the tragedy.
Arguably the most beautiful, moving song written about the WTC attacks. As many times as I've heard this, I always cry as I listen to it and think of the dark day and the terrible losses. And yet, the song also speaks to hope, "the land of the living," and of how all Americans, of all races, creeds, and faiths, grieved and will hold that day in their hearts forever.
Late afternoon back in New York town Waking up as the wheels touch down Pick up my guitar and walk away Wish I was going home to stay Line of taxis, I wait my turn Tar and asphalt, exhaust and fumes Beside the road on a patch of ground Taxi drivers are kneeling down Beneath the concrete sky I watch them pray While the people of the world hurry on their way I think they're praying for us all today And the stories that fell from the sky that day CHORUS: This is the land of the living This is the land that's mine She still watches over Manhattan She's still holding onto that torch for life Back home fire's still burning, I can see it in the air Pictures of faces posted everywhere They say "hazel eyes, chestnut hair Mother of two missing down there" I pass the firemen on duty tonight Carpets of flowers in candlelight And thank you in a child's scrawl Taped to the Third Street firehouse wall There's shadows of the lost on the faces I see Brothers and strangers on this island of grief There's death in the air but there's life on this street There's life on this street CHORUS This is the land of the living This is the land that's mine She still watches over Manhattan She's still holding onto that torch for life Then I got in a taxi, said "Hudson Street please" He started the meter and he looked at me I glanced at his name on the back of his seat And I looked out the window at the ghost filled streets I noticed cuts on his hand and his face And I said "You're bleeding, are you okay?" He said "I'm not so good, got beat up today And I'm not one of them no matter what they say I'm just worried about my family My wife's in the house and she's scared to leave" And I didn't know what to say I didn't know what to say But I said a prayer for him anyway CHORUS This is the land of the living This is the land that's mine She still watches over Manhattan She's still holding onto that torch for life (Lyrics by Lucy Kaplansky and Richard Litvin, Music by Lucy Kaplansky)
We were living in Milford, Connecticut on 9/11/2001, and I had been working for CBS so went to NYC a lot. This is a beautiful song abou a very sad day. I have seen Lucy perform with Richard Shindell at Fairfield University. Best tribute I have seen after all these years.
Funny, I was living in Milford CT then too. We had just moved there and my mother had come to visit from Chicago. I didn't have cable TV hooked up and hadn't really intended to get it. My mother was supposed to fly home that day. I got a phone call from my sister asking if Mom was on a plane. I said not yet. She said, "A plane hit the World Trade Center. No one knows what's going on. I don't think Mom will be flying home. Turn on the TV." I couldn't, because I didn't have it. So I think I am the only person in America who did not watch the horror over and over again on TV that day. I turned on the radio and listened and felt a great pall fall over everything. Several days later, on a lark, I plugged in our TV and screwed in the cable that was laying on the floor and found that the people who moved out had never disconnected it. I was glad then that I hadn't had to see the images until my brain was more prepared for them.
We were living in Milford, Connecticut on 9/11/2001, and I had been working for CBS so went to NYC a lot. This is a beautiful song abou a very sad day. I have seen Lucy perform with Richard Shindell at Fairfield University. Best tribute I have seen after all these years.
Wow.. what a moving video with the images paired with Lucy's song. Thank you. We need to remember this day as hard as it is.
Our English teacher did a lesson on this song! It's amazing. Lucy Kaplansky, you're an incredible singer/songwriter.
We took our children to see Lucy and Jeb Loy Nichols perform on the plaza at the World Trade Center in August, 2001, just a few weeks before the towers fell. A beautiful song and I thank my daughter for the revisit today, on the 17th anniversary of the tragedy.
...still praying for all those stories, thanks Lucy for your heart, vision and music...(and thanks TEC75 for telling it so well)
Arguably the most beautiful, moving song written about the WTC attacks. As many times as I've heard this, I always cry as I listen to it and think of the dark day and the terrible losses. And yet, the song also speaks to hope, "the land of the living," and of how all Americans, of all races, creeds, and faiths, grieved and will hold that day in their hearts forever.
Just an absolutely perfect song ... lyrics, music and voice. Lucy made a great contribution to society with this amazing song. Thank you.
Thank you, Lucy. This is so heartbreaking and beautiful. We will never forget.
Late afternoon back in New York town
Waking up as the wheels touch down
Pick up my guitar and walk away
Wish I was going home to stay
Line of taxis, I wait my turn
Tar and asphalt, exhaust and fumes
Beside the road on a patch of ground
Taxi drivers are kneeling down
Beneath the concrete sky I watch them pray
While the people of the world hurry on their way
I think they're praying for us all today
And the stories that fell from the sky that day
CHORUS:
This is the land of the living
This is the land that's mine
She still watches over Manhattan
She's still holding onto that torch for life
Back home fire's still burning, I can see it in the air
Pictures of faces posted everywhere
They say "hazel eyes, chestnut hair
Mother of two missing down there"
I pass the firemen on duty tonight
Carpets of flowers in candlelight
And thank you in a child's scrawl
Taped to the Third Street firehouse wall
There's shadows of the lost on the faces I see
Brothers and strangers on this island of grief
There's death in the air but there's life on this street
There's life on this street
CHORUS
This is the land of the living
This is the land that's mine
She still watches over Manhattan
She's still holding onto that torch for life
Then I got in a taxi, said "Hudson Street please"
He started the meter and he looked at me
I glanced at his name on the back of his seat
And I looked out the window at the ghost filled streets
I noticed cuts on his hand and his face
And I said "You're bleeding, are you okay?"
He said "I'm not so good, got beat up today
And I'm not one of them no matter what they say
I'm just worried about my family
My wife's in the house and she's scared to leave"
And I didn't know what to say
I didn't know what to say
But I said a prayer for him anyway
CHORUS
This is the land of the living
This is the land that's mine
She still watches over Manhattan
She's still holding onto that torch for life
(Lyrics by Lucy Kaplansky and Richard Litvin,
Music by Lucy Kaplansky)
...still watching; still listening; still praying...
Im crying.. This is so touching.. My friend died in the flight that crashed into the pentagon.
Tony, You coupled some terrific images with Lucy's lyrics. Thanks for sharing your production.
Really beautiful images to go to this poignant song - thanks for putting it together.
We had to listen to this in class..... very sad
so beautiful. thank you for posting.
Deeply moving, Lucy.
It made my mind go still...
This IS beautiful
This is quite a song and some interesting images.
So haunting and beautiful..
Marks the end of a different world
God bless the USA
God bless the president Barack Obama
Music drawn from tragedy. Music that unites. We can only hope for more like this through the BLM protests
beautiful
i cried
💙🥇🙏🌈
We were living in Milford, Connecticut on 9/11/2001, and I had been working for CBS so went to NYC a lot. This is a beautiful song abou a very sad day. I have seen Lucy perform with Richard Shindell at Fairfield University. Best tribute I have seen after all these years.
Funny, I was living in Milford CT then too. We had just moved there and my mother had come to visit from Chicago. I didn't have cable TV hooked up and hadn't really intended to get it. My mother was supposed to fly home that day. I got a phone call from my sister asking if Mom was on a plane. I said not yet. She said, "A plane hit the World Trade Center. No one knows what's going on. I don't think Mom will be flying home. Turn on the TV." I couldn't, because I didn't have it. So I think I am the only person in America who did not watch the horror over and over again on TV that day. I turned on the radio and listened and felt a great pall fall over everything. Several days later, on a lark, I plugged in our TV and screwed in the cable that was laying on the floor and found that the people who moved out had never disconnected it. I was glad then that I hadn't had to see the images until my brain was more prepared for them.