[Verse 1]
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 gray light
Where were you?
Where were you?

[Verse 2]
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?
(I'm getting out of here with my kids)
Assuming there was any way to
(Find out where that bus is)
Where, if you didn't own a car?
(Or some other way)
Where were you?
Where were you?

[Chorus]
Where were you when you understood
However decent, however good
However hard some people try
They only barely make it by? (Where were you?)
They're born to live their entire lives (Putting them)
In harm's way
(So now where we gonna go?)
[Verse 3]
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?

[Chorus]
Where were you when you realized
However strong, however wise
However true our leaders appear to be (Oh)
When they talk about prosperity (Always talking 'bout we)
However hard this country strives (Who are we?)
When property is valued more than lives
How strong will we ever really be?
(How strong will we ever really be?)
How long do we imagine we'll be free?
(How long do we imagine we'll be free?)
[Verse 4]
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?)
Where were you when the streets filled up with black water?

[Chorus]
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)
If we ever cease to love
(If we ever cease to love)