rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

"The Bravest" by Tom Paxton
The first plane hit the other tower
Right after I came in
It left a gaping, firey hole
Where offices had been.
We stood and watched in horror
As we saw the first ones fall.
Then someone yelled "Get out! Get out!
They're trying to kill us all."

I grabbed the pictures from my desk
And joined the flight for life.
With every step I called the names
Of my children and my wife.
And then we heard them coming up
From several floors below.
A crowd of fire fighters,
With their heavy gear in tow.

CHORUS:
Now every time I try to sleep
I'm haunted by the sound,
Of firemen pounding up the stairs
While we were coming down.

And when we met them on the stairs
They said we were too slow.
"Get out! Get out!" they yelled at us -
"The whole thing's going to go"
They didn't have to tell us twice -
We'd seen the world on fire.
We kept on running down the stairs
While they kept climbing higher.

CHORUS:
Now every time I try to sleep
I'm haunted by the sound,
Of firemen pounding up the stairs
While we were coming down.

Thank God, we made it to the street;
We ran through ash and smoke.
I did not know which way to run -
I thought that I would choke.

A fireman took me by the arm
And pointed me uptown.
Then "Christ!" I heard him whisper
As the tower came roaring down

So, now I go to funerals
For men I never knew.
The pipers play Amazing Grace,
As the coffins come in view.
They must have seen it coming
When they turned to face the fire.
They sent us down to safety,
Then, they kept on climbing higher

CHORUS:
Now every time I try to sleep
I'm haunted by the sound,
Of firemen pounding up the stairs
While we were coming down.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

NMGal Loc: NE NM

Very moving. A beautiful tribute to many brave men.

tramsey Loc: Texas

Exactly what NMGal said

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

I am with Barbara!

yssirk123 Loc: New Jersey

A fitting tribute Bob - thanks for sharing.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Powerful!

Charles Whittier

😥 Such brave men.

jederick Loc: Northern Utah

Sensational tribute, Bob...thanks for sharing!!

whatdat Loc: Del Valle, Tx.

Very well said.

As was said after Pearl Harbor; This day will live in infamy.

thephotoman Loc: Rochester, NY

Thank you for posting the song.

thephotoman Loc: Rochester, NY

Thank you for posting the link to the song.

cwp3420

When I was detailed there in October, 2001, when I could, I went to every funeral for both fire fighters and police officers. They were all very moving and emotional.

merrytexan Loc: georgia

thank you for sharing this beautiful tribute, bob.