Reason Why

The Story Behind the Song

This song carries the weight of fifteen years I spent as a 911 dispatcher. It's written from the perspective of an operator (me) who answered hundreds of calls that ended this way — with grief, loss, and silence on the other end of the line. Too often, both I and the caller were powerless to do anything more than wait for help to arrive. I didn't write Reason Why as a dramatization. I wrote it as a testimony — to capture the echoes of voices I still hear. It's my attempt to give shape to that helplessness, and in doing so, honor the countless people who've cried out for help in their final moments.

Performances

This Long Broken Road is released in three performer editions, each with its own real performance — durations differ by artist, not just persona.

Lyrics

A minute ago, it was a Saturday night, Living it up under the pale moonlight. Next thing I know, it all went wrong, It’s all out of place and nothing belongs. I held you close, wiped the blood from your lips, Leaned down and gave you a trembling kiss. You whispered you're cold, said it's all gone dark, I pulled you tight, but couldn’t feel your heart... Baby, take another breath... You gotta hold on... I’ve got nothing left... Please don’t be gone... Don’t leave me all alone... I can’t do this on my own... I won’t say goodbye... You’re my reason why... I hear sirens coming but they're still far away, Why couldn’t this have gone like any other day? Your hand slips from mine, the light’s left your eyes, If you can hear me — I love you… I wasn’t ready for goodbye. Baby, take another breath! You gotta hold on! I’ve got nothing left! Please don’t be gone! Don’t leave me alone! I can’t do this on my own! I won’t say goodbye! You’re my reason why! A minute ago, it was a Saturday night, Then I was holding you under flashing lights... The next thing I knew, they tore you from me, All I have left now... is our memories.