Dust in the Wind Kansas, 1977 album
Point of No Return Written by Kerry Livgren
I close my eyes, only for a moment, and the moment's gone All my dreams, pass before my eyes, a curiosity Dust in the wind, all they are is dust in the wind Same old song, just a drop of water in an endless sea All we do, crumbles to the ground, though we refuse to see Dust in the wind, All we are is dust in the wind Don't hang on, nothing lasts forever but the earth and sky It slips away, all your money won't another minute buy Dust in the wind, All we are is dust in the wind
Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 Clear Channel Communications placed this song on the list of songs that were lyrically questionable, but not specifically banned for radio stations to play. This is understandable, given the situation at the time, but now in retrospect the lyrics are arguably very fitting.
A brief history: The song was originally a finger picking exercise, much like the guitar riff from Sweet Child O’ Mine by Guns ‘N Roses guitarist Slash, and was created by Kansas band member, Kerry Livgren, whose wife heard the melody and said he should write lyrics. The song became a last minute addition to the album
Point of No Return as a result, and was a step away from their typical genre of music. The song peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in April 1978. During an interview with Kansas by Red Beard with original air date of September 7, 1992, Kerry Livgren explains his inspiration:
“…I was reading a book on American Indian poetry one day, and I came across that line, "for all we are is dust in the wind." And I thought, well, you know, that's really true. Here I got all this success - I've got material possessions - I've got a goal in my life that had been accomplished at that point, but I'm going back into the ground - and what does this really mean in light of that? And that's really kind of the message of that song, but the amazing thing was that so many people identified with that. And that song ended up on the country charts, on the middle of the road chart, easy listening - and it crossed all kinds of boundaries.”
Over a decade later we can see how this song entwines with the events of September 11th, 2001 and why Clear Channel Communication may have felt the lyrics were questionable. Here is how lives were changed on that fateful day as reported by The New York Magazine.
- Total number killed in attacks in New York: 2,753
- Number of firefighters and paramedics killed: 343
- Number of NYPD officers: 23
- Number of Port Authority police officers: 37
- Number of WTC companies in the towers that lost people: 128
- Number of employees who died in Tower One: 1,402
- Number of employees who died in Tower Two: 614
- Number of U.S. troops killed in Operation Enduring Freedom: 2,108
- Number of nations whose citizens were killed in attacks: 115
- Number of people who lost a spouse or partner in the attacks: 1,609
- Estimated number of children who lost a parent: 3,051
- Number of firefighters on leave for respiratory problems by January 2002: 300
- Days fires continued to burn after the attack: 99
- Jobs lost in New York owing to the attacks: 146,100
- Total FEMA money spent on the emergency: $970 million
- Estimated amount donated to 9/11 charities: $1.4 billion
- Number of Americans who changed their 2001 holiday-travel plans from plane to train or car: 1.4 million
If you wish to express the memory of those lost or for those serving in the military, law enforcement or fire department (maybe inspired due to the events of September 11’th) Alter’s Gems have lapel pins; the US Flag, USA and an American Shield of Honor pin that can also be used as a tie tact.
Always remember, never forget.
