The song is based on the September 11 attacks . Jackson had finished walking outside and returned indoors to discover news of the attacks on television . He immediately wanted to write a song expressing his thoughts and emotions , but he found it hard to do so for many weeks . " I did n't want to write a patriotic song , " Jackson said . " And I did n't want it to be vengeful , either . But I did n't want to forget about how I felt and how I knew other people felt that day . " Finally , on the Sunday morning of October 28 , 2001 , he woke up at 4 a.m. with the melody , opening lines , and chorus going through his mind . He hastily got out of bed , still in his underwear , and sang them into a hand-held digital recorder so he would not forget them . Later that morning , when his wife and children had gone to Sunday school , he sat down in his study and completed the lyrics
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)