Songs about 9/11: What makes a good one?

I’ve always had a hard time with songs about 9/11. Even eight years later, the day feels so beyond tragic that I’ve never been able to figure out how to put words to my feelings into a song. And, I find, so do others — many 9/11-inspired songs fail to hit the mark for me…whether it’s because I find them too specific, or not specific enough, or too sentimental and cliched…On the other hand, I believe these songs are essential to make sense of an incomprehensible event.

What do you think? Are there elements that you think make for a good song about an event like 9/11?

Also: I asked songwriters participating on the Songwriting Scene Facebook page to to share links to 9/11-inspired songs they’d written. Here are three links to listen to today:

Perry Desmond-Davies
Bill Grady: on the audio player at the bottom, click to the 5th song, “Yours Truly”
Jamon White: “It’s Getting Harder”

  • cinderkeys

    I haven't heard a lot of 9/11 songs. Truthfully, I don't want to. Not a lot of songwriters have the precise kind of talent to pull it off.

    Lord knows I don't.

  • nat lyon

    Wow. Several very poignant 9/11 songs by John Vanderslice on both Pixel Revolt and Emerald City.

  • Anonymous

    I think, far and away, the best 9/11 song I've heard is "Safe as Houses" by The Weepies:
    http://www.archive.org/details/the_weepies_safe_as_houses

    I find a critical component of a "good" 9/11 song is that it not address the specific details too directly. Subtlety is everything. Being too direct makes the whole thing come out ham-handed.