Story Behind The Song
Madsen was a Safety Engineer on the WTC when it was being built, during the excavation and creation of the "bathtub" and had many friends who still worked at the Port Authority in the towers. This song was written and recorded in the month after 9-11. The singing begins with a small child, representing the innocense of those who were killed, who is then is joined by a woman (a mother, wife and/or daughter), and then Glenn and a chorus join in to represent the entire American nation.
Song Description
The first two verses describe the World Trade Center in the early morning of 9-11.
The bridge describes how Manhattan reacts to tragedy.
The last verses describe the scene after the fall of the towers, and resolve to rebuild.
| Song Length |
3:14 |
Genre |
Pop - Alternative, Unique - Patriotic |
| Tempo |
Slow (71 - 90) |
Lead Vocal |
Duet Male/Female |
| Subject |
Judgement, Recovery |
Language |
English |
Lyrics
So tall, so fair,
Two towers pierce the air
For all the world to see --
A shining vision by the sea.
The sun beams down,
The busy streets resound,
The towers stand and gleam
As if to bless an island's dream.
This isle of rock and blood
Receives the fleeing human flood,
Paves the streets with shattered dreams
And sees them rise again.
So tall, so fair,
Two towers once stood there
For all the world to see --
A shining vision by the sea.
We'll build once more.
Manhattan's granite core
Survives the sins of men.
And from these depths
We rise again
And from these depths
We rise again
To bring a dream
To life again.
We rise again.