As the fifth anniversary approaches, I'd like to share with you this song I wrote just before the first anniversary of 9/11. I watched the towers blaze and, from 'out of the blue,' crumble... from across the Hudson River and my, that day, too-beautiful-of-a-view of the Manhattan skyline.

You're welcome to listen, and use this song, share it with others, post this link on your web-site(s), perform the song, play the song on radio broadcast and/or events and forward it to interested parties... Please let me know if/when you do, and I'll provide you with the full resolution audio CD, as only the mp3's (lower resolution) are posted on my site.

I am not promoting my performance, but the song/message, and want to share it...widen its listening audience, and perhaps, artists' interest in performing it and/or groups/individuals sharing it/utilizing it...I did my best (with limited musical ability and recording skills) to capture and communicate intimately the love, care, understanding, and unity I have and feel, and wish for, not only of our country, but our world.

As the song emerged, I had (and still have a hope for realizing) this vision of a mass of Americans--regular people of all backgrounds--from the pit of Ground Zero--singing and chanting this love-song to all those around the world who might quite understandably feel that we don't care...Well, many of us do! Love, understanding, compassion and inclusion surely can't hurt...

Beyond all hopes and dreams (and requests), I hope you enjoy the song, individually, because that's where I know it must, and I wish it to, begin…within each of us, one at a time!

I tried to get it some radio airplay at the second anniversary in 2002 just after writing and rushing my homespun recording, but with not much success as, before even hearing the song, the response was typically..."a 9/11 song?!...not interested!..." As our human emotional system processes such trauma and pain, perhaps it was--even then, one year later--still too soon to re-visit and remember the event, as it was still so present for us...

Or, perhaps the song's just no good! But my mommy and daddy told me it's great! Seriously, I know I'm flat w/ the vocals, the original version is noisy, is not finished; and the orchestration version is slow, and my voice is not the best, very flat here and there, and it's missing the chorus earlier in the song as it is present in the original version. I really wanted to work on it more, re-sing the the orchestrated version (my vocal on this one was just a once-through so I could add the music around it), but lack of funds, a breakdown of my computer audio, and probably, most important, TIME, had me get it out there now, versus who knows when I could polish it up, re-sing it etc etc. I'm quite a perfectionist, and hearing my voice in certain parts of the song really makes me shriek but, I'm trying to get over myself, so that I can live, and share what's more important, the song itself, and living and sharing. I've been learning that 'getting it so right' can lead to not 'getting it' at all… And 'making the point' can really be in actuality missing the point. And the more important point here is just being, and trusting…

Like its author, the song is quite long-winded. But, please know...the love runs so much deeper than the song runs long...

If you like it, send it to 10 friends, and I promise, you'll get NOTHING in return!! ...except what you feel...and, that's what I'm going on, intention, and learning to know that that's just, if not more than, enough to make it worthwhile...

On that morning in 2001, living in Weehawken, NJ, at the foot of the Hudson, and hearing from the city that something was happening, I walked out of my apartment and couldn’t believe what I was seeing…the buildings in flames. Then, from out of the blue…this could not be happening…even with the fires, there was no warning to figure out, in disbelief, what was actually to come…the truly unbelievable. The crowd that had gathered by this time, in Hamilton Park on Boulevard East, yelped, buckled to its knees literally…as we were watching, in real-time, what we knew could not be really happening,

I started writing music/songs about two years prior to 2001, a late bloomer in adulthood I’ve been. I wrote two songs about two of my closest friends and their first born children who happened to be sons. I wanted afterward to write something more ‘global’ in the figurative sense. But, just before the first anniversary, ‘global’ in the figurative sense (you know, like a song about relationships without the names of the actual people, so others can relate) emerged to be quite literally global. The indelible vision of what had happened, the pain, the sorrow, overcame me, But keeping the victims-- and those who so desperately took them-company was a mass of Americans, of all backgrounds, standing at the pit of Ground Zero, chanting from the pits of their stomachs and souls, warmly, words of inclusion, love and oneness that overcame me and the world at odds. I finally wrote about the mix of the benign if not pleasant reality of that morning, then the events seemingly unreal, and others, along with sentiments and hopes, not realized—but I hope somehow realistic, and later recorded the vision in this song…a love-song, though quite sad, inspiring and hopeful.

On the first anniversary, I was rushing around that morning trying to find people with whom to share it, but was shy to share it as well, as I didn’t know the politics and/or anger that listeners might have felt, and still very understandably may hold within and against anyone who would think, let alone, act to hurt the victims; or, anyone who would dare to love those people who, if loved, may have otherwise not committed such horrible acts. When I did get a chance to perform the song or play the recording, the reception was at most, quiet. What a mix of so many strong and apparently--and for many--absolutely opposing and antagonistic story lines. But I’ve come to try to accept myself and the truth of the story lines of life. Perhaps keeping them separate is partly what keeps them at odds. I’m now, four years later, taking the risk of sharing with you not only the love I have for our victims, but of everyone and every thing on this planet earth, despite mood, anger and deep hurt at so many levels. I didn’t want to offend anyone by asking them to come along on that journey. But, who knows, you may already be on it…and I wish that for you. That would surely help the world more than hurt it. At least our own worlds in which we live each day. But I understand if you’d prefer not. I just hope that you’ll take what I’m offering for the love and care that is primary. I wish you, and your whole family, for your sake, for the sake of the victims and heroes, self-love and compassion.

From the song I can only hope likewise that above all you trust my intention, that which allows me to be here with you today…the truth of my wishes for you, your fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, sons, daughers, brothers and sisters… for every one of you, and for all of us. May we all be blessed with love for ourselves and each other.

I've since been invited and have performed it in concert: Music Matters, on Long Island; and at a 911 Vigil in Shrewsbury, NJ and by a Fireman from the Firehouse on South Street, NY, where they lost 14 brothers, ....Perhaps I'll be there this year...

I just started this website for my personal sports coaching of high school and youth athletes...erikbernstein.com, but added this page so that there could be a place for you to find it with easy access

The Music link /webpage above includes:

Hoping it resonates with you...as it is intended, though perhaps sad, as loving inspiration...

Thanks for your time and attention, and for what you are doing...

Love and Peace to you!

Thanks again-

Erik

Erik Bernstein

646-302-9858 cell