ASCAP Supports the USS New York Commissioning

Paul Williams entertains at the New York Athletic Club

On November 7, the USS New York, the newest fighting ship in the U.S. Navy fleet, was commissioned in New York City. The event took place in front of over 5,000 people, including active and retired military personnel, the U.S. Secretary of State, the Governor of New York, the Mayor of New York City, the families and friends of 9/11 victims and those first responders who survived that day. With seven and a half tons of World Trade Center steel in her bow, the USS New York has become a lasting memorial and tribute to the victims of 9/11.

ASCAP was appointed to the Commissioning Committee responsible for entertainment because of the acknowledged talent of our members and the fact we lost an ASCAP Licensing Manager, Jane Simpkin, who was on the second plane to hit the Trade Center that terrible day.

The week of the commissioning was filled with events to welcome the ship and its crew to New York City. A highlight was a special welcoming reception on Monday, November 2 at the New York Athletic Club where ASCAP's President and Chairman Paul Williams entertained the Captain, officers and senior crew along with several hundred Navy, Federal, State and City officials, Corporate executives and guests with a medley of his greatest hits. He concluded with a song, "If We Could Remember," originally co-written with composer Jerry Goldsmith for the movie The Sum of All Fears. For this special occasion, Williams re-wrote the lyrics as a tribute to the USS New York, her crew and to the memory of the 9/11 victims.

The opening verse of the original song:

If we could remember
The moment of our birth
We'd give our voice to songs and whispers
Know what life is worth

And the new lyrics for the USS New York:

Her voice will not be silenced
Our mission never fails
And truth lives on
In steely promise
When this lady sails

There's iron in the promise
Americans can make
We build and keep
A vow that leaves
An unimagined wake

And morning holds us
When worlds come tumbling down
A dance of ghosts and ragged dreams
Spinning round
Spinning round

Your voices won't be silenced
Your memory never fails
Not really gone
The dream lives on
Each time this lady sails

Love never dies
The fallen rise
Salute ...The USS New York sails

© 2009 Paul Williams