Where Were You

Where were you when the sky cracked open?

Heading for shelter and barely coping

Thinking you could ride the storm out,

Hoping it would be all right

Where were you when they gave the warning?

Hundred fifty-mile winds by morning

Category four making landfall in the wild grey light

Where were you?

Where were you in the social order?

The Lower Nine or a hotel in the Quarter

Which side of the border between rich and poor?

Where were you going to evacuate to?

Assuming there was any way to

Where, if you didn't own a car?

Where were you?

Where were you when you understood

However decent, however good

However hard some people try

They only barely make it by

They're born, and live their entire lives in harm's way

Where were you when you heard the stranded,

The injured and the empty handed

Were running out of food and water at the Superdome?

With the newborn and the elderly

Exposed to even more misery

While those in charge of rescue

Waited for the Guard to come

And those who left the Convention Center

Were stopped on the bridge when they tried to enter

The safety of the west bank, and higher ground

And when the Guard finally did arrive

And got to work on about day five

Mainly they were used to keep the looting down

Where were you?

Where were you when you realized

However strong, however wise

However true our leaders appear to be

When they talk about prosperity

However hard this country strives

If property is valued more than lives

How strong will we ever really be?

How long do we imagine we'll be free?

We hold the truth self evident:

The photograph of the President

From Air Force One, he views the devastation

Shaved face, rested eyes

Looking down, he circles twice

On his way home from his vacation

Where were you, when you got the picture?

Where were you?

Where were you when the streets filled up with black water?

Where were you when defeat and destruction

Reigned in the Crescent

Where were you when it blew from every direction

Where were you when the promise was made

To return, and rebuild, and restore to its people

The city that gave us the first American music

True inspiration and the freedom to use it

Where will we find it again, if we lose it?

And where will we be, if we ever cease to love?

If we ever cease to love ...