Story Behind The Song

Informed Review/Credits It is not easy to compose a song adequate to the events of 9/11/01. And starting out by indicating you've 'heard too much about it', surely can't help your cause. That's Idaho's primary problem on Skyline, the first track of 2006's Ponderay County USA album. However, he proceeds from there to construct a metaphor between the broken skyline of post-911 Manhattan and the figurative 'skyline in our hearts' - also subject to mass destruction in the aftermath of the attacks. A little further on, Idaho again expresses reservations about our post-911 sentiments, rhetorically suggesting we should 'hope we're worthy of surviving, those now absent from our heart's skyline'. Placing that sentiment in the context of going to war, finishes the job of muddying things up, not necessarily an inappropriate approach to the topic, given where post-911 events have taken the country. Nevertheless, Idaho, finishes Skyline with a powerful appeal to the inspirational power of the 911 heroes, and old-fashioned Yankee Doodle patriotism, cleverly evoked by an epilogic piccolo solo. If you're looking for a definitive musical tribute to the events of 9/11 - you could well do worse than Skyline, so if you are still looking - I'd certainly give this track a listen. Credits: Idaho punctuates Skyline's lyrical ambivalence with a musical emphasis skilfully delivered by a first rate group of Nashville session players highlighted by Pat Severs simmering lap steel guitar work. Piccolo solo by the impeccable brass man Sam Levine.

Song Description

A lyrical metaphor between the broken skyline of post-911 Manhattan and the figurative 'skyline in our hearts' - also subject to mass destruction in the aftermath of the attacks. Musically intended to cross arena-rock, country-rock and yankee-doodle roots music

Lyrics

Skyline ©2006 Roger Idaho

Heard too much about it
Same thing everyday
Fix that old skyline
So we can be whole again

But there?s a skyline in our lives
Not made of bricks and steel
It?s the skyline in our hearts
Not so easily healed

Skyline in our hearts
Skyline in our hearts
Skyline in our hearts
Not so easily healed

So fix Manhattan all you like
Real scars will remain
On the skyline in our hearts
Where our loved one?s memories are framed

Skyline in our hearts
Skyline in our hearts
Skyline in our hearts
Where our memories are framed

So now we?ve gone to war
You may think it?s wrong or right
Let?s just hope we?re worthy of surviving
Those now absent from our heart?s skyline

Someday that Manhattan skyline
Will rise proudly once again
But the skyline in our hearts
Don?t think that time will ever mend

911 will never stop
Ground zero will remain
The skyline in our heart is filled with heroes
I pray their loss is not in vain

If you could see it with your eyes
Skyline in our hearts
Much more than burning planes and buildings
It?s our heroes? funeral pyre

If you could see it with your eyes
You?ll know they did not die in vain
Thanks to their inspiration
That skyline in our hearts will rise again

Thanks to their inspiration
That skyline in our hearts will rise again