LaGuardia to Weehawken / Miracle on the Hudson

My childhood friend, Steve O'Brien, was a passenger on the U.S. Airways flight that went into the Hudson River a few weeks back. We grew up together in Rockland County and now he lives with his wife and kids in Charlotte, NC.

Steve's never been a writer, nor a poet, but he has written some incredibly poignant, and sometimes humorous, words recalling his experience on Flight 1549.

He sent these words to me a few days ago and on this past Saturday I was strumming my guitar and put his poem to music. I then performed a show that night at The Turning Point in Piermont, NY where I had a scheduled concert and when it was performed you could hear a pin drop and then the audience stood and cheered/applauded.

Needless to say, I think Steve hit the nail right on the head with his words and emotion as this event captured the imagination and hearts of so many people. After the show many people said I should record this poem/song and send it out as some folks may want to hear it.

Well here you go, poem is below and MP3 is playing on my Myspace page or you can click here to download the MP3 and play it on your PC. Thank God my friend is still here to write this poem and people like Sully fly our planes.

Best,
Joe D'Urso

"LaGuardia to Weehawken/Miracle on the Hudson"
Lyrics: Steve O'Brien
Music: Joe D'Urso

15 days after the new year
Taking off from Queens to the Queen City in cold NY clear
Flying in the sky with grey birds that day
From the Great White North, they got in the way

Broiled Canadians stink up the cabin
Looking down you see Manhattan
Brace for impact, Sully did calmly deliver
We're taking this bitch/plane into the river

Back in New York from my home in the south
This is not reality comes from my mouth
Thoughts of loved ones without me, hard times ahead
When I woke up this morning didn't expect to be dead

Big Tin can bounces along the waves
We are still in this world, not icy Hudson graves
Presence of God, open doors showing sun and water
A dip off Hells Kitchen with somebody's daughter

Shivering in the life raft, Jersey looks fine,
Ferryman comes to save souls this time
155 hearts another day will beat
Miracle on the Hudson, now life is so sweet.