"If This Is Goodbye" - The 9/11 Song

The last few days I’ve been in the company of a new song called “If This Is Goodbye” written by Mark Knopfler and sung along with Emmylou Harris. It goes everywhere I go, playing softly in my head every few minutes throughout the day. And every time it’s finished I feel a little bit better about 9/11. That’s the ultimate power of music – to go to the dark recesses of our souls and attach beauty to the pain. I also now understand why Mark Knopfler is such a brilliant guitarist, and why people like Eric Clapton tour with him. It’s because of the emotional depth he brings to a single note. As for the great Emmylou Harris? She’s…well, she’s Emmylou Harris. The song is based on the cellphone calls made from the Twin Towers to loved ones that horrible morning. It is devastating, and yet somewhat encouraging at the same time. If that event can be turned into a love song, then there is hope for the species after all. I’ll never think of 9/11 again without thinking of this music. It emphasizes the most profound part of the entire thing: People in a desperate situation taking the time to call their loved ones: “If This Is Goodbye.”