“Have You Forgotten” is a song dedicated to all the people who were affected by the September 11 attacks. People all over the world felt miserable of what happened that day.

The September 11 Attacks…

Back in the morning of Tuesday on September 11, 2001, a series of terrorist attacks by the Islamic terrorist group Al Quaeda in the United States took place. There were 2,996 people killed and over 6,000 others injured. Additionally, it caused at least $10 billion infrastructure and property damage. The occurrence was all over the news.

Also, on that day, 19 Al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four passenger airliners departed from airports in the Northeastern United States bound for California. Two of the planes, the American Airlines Flight 11 and the United Airlines Flight 175, were crashed into the North and South towers of the World Trade Center Complex in New York City resulting in the 110-story towers including the 47-story 7 World Trade Center to collapse.

Moreover, the third plane, the American Airline Flight 77, was crashed into the Pentagon, the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense in Arlington, Virginia. Lastly, the fourth plane, the United Airlines Flight, crashed into a field in Stonycreek Township after the passengers tried to overcome the hijackers.

The Song…

Specifically, the track was inspired by the result of the 9/11. It was written by Darryl Worley and Wynn Varble. On the other hand, it was No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs for seven weeks and peaked at number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it Worley’s biggest mainstream hit.

The Lyrics…

I hear people sayin’. We Don’t need this war
But I say there’s some things worth fightin’ for
What about our freedom and this piece of ground?
We didn’t get to keep em’ by backing down
They say we don’t realize the mess we’re gettin in
Before you start your preachin’ let me ask you this my friend

Have you forgotten how it felt that day
To see your homeland under fire
And her people blown away
Have you forgotten when those towers fell
We had neighbors still inside goin through a livin hell
And you say we shouldn’t worry about Bin Laden
Have you forgotten?

They took all the footage off my TV
Said it’s too disturbin for you and me
It’ll just breed anger is what the experts say
If it was up to me I’d show it every day
Some say this country’s just out lookin’ for a fight
Well after 9-11 man I’d have to say that’s right

Have you forgotten how it felt that day
To see your homeland under fire
And her people blown away
Have you forgotten when those towers fell
We had neighbors still inside goin through a livin hell
And we vow to get the ones behind Bin Laden
Have you forgotten?

I’v been there with the soldiers
Who’ve gone away to war
And you can bet that they remember just what they’re fighting for

Have you forgotten
All the people killed
Yes some went down like heroes
In that Pennsylvania field
Have you forgotten
About our Pentagon
All the loved ones that we lost
And those left to carry on
Don’t you tell me not to worry ’bout Bin Laden

Lyrics’ Criticisms…

The anthem might be a song dedicated to all the people affected by the incident. Some were moved by the song and the lyrics but some criticized. Furthermore, critiques have mentioned that the lyrics have been an endorsement of war to Iraq.

According to The Village Voice, the song was an

“attempt to tie together the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the run-up to the Iraq war”.

Los Angeles Times said the song has a

“pro-war call to action”.

Chicago Tribune said;

“essentially reads like a Bush position paper for entering Iraq with guns blazing”

while Hartford Courant described the song as

“a plea that thinly links the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks with the need to bomb Iraq,” and “a page ripped right out of a White House briefing.”.

In addition, the song has also been discussed in theses, dissertations, and conference papers and some writers have used the song to illustrate specific elements of historical and political concepts.

Worley’s Responds…

Darryl Worley, writer and the singer of the song, denied the allegations regarding the meaning of the song. He mentioned that

“The song is posing a question: Have you forgotten what happened to our country on 9/11? That’s pretty much the size of it.”.

Additionally, Worley wrote the song as pro-America and not a pro-war song. In fact, it was about grieving and the importance of remembering the departed.

Above all, whatever the reason is, we all felt the misery and distress of what happened on September 11, 2001. Through the song, it only means that we cared and we remembered the ones who lost their lives on that day.

If you want to listen to other songs dedicated to the 9/11 attacks. Click the link below or visit our website at