Story Behind The Song

This is the story of the famous New London school explosion in 1937. Its a true story that happened in the small town of New London in East Texas. Its written from the perspective of a young girl who didn't go to school that day but goes back to the cemetery to see her loved ones who died.

Lyrics

It was a morning like every other
But I had come down with a fever
Mama said, "Baby,
you ain't going to school today."

I crossed my arms with pride
and sat down at the window in spite
of my little sickness
and all it was keeping inside

I thought about the day I'd miss
Friends playing my favorite games at recess
Never thought for a second
I would never ever see them again

That afternoon brought with it a sound
so loud it shook the whole town
Progression halted in an instant
They had no time to get out

Everyone ran in from the fields
ill prepared for such a heavy burden
All their children
Only recognizable by their clothes

When I asked Mama, "Why?"
As she wiped the tears from our eyes
All she could muster to say,
"He works in mysterious ways."

I wondered why them and not me
I wish New London set me free
But I guess there are worse things
than to grow up alone

As I drive down this misty road
Its helps all of my memories unfold
when I stop at the faded stones
marked with spinning tops and yo yos

This is price that we paid
It's only worth what we learn from our mistakes
These things have to happen
to pave the way for the rest of the world

A growing town stopped dead in its tracks
It all started from a spark and a flash
Smells so sweet now it sickens
to ensure this won't ever happen again.