<P> The song was never sold as a benefit song, and it is unknown if proceeds from the song's success were contributed to 9 / 11 - related benefit organizations . Management for Jackson only claimed at the time of the song release that Jackson "has no official ties to any nonprofit group," and he preferred "to make his donations privately ." </P> <P> As of September 2015, the song has sold 395,000 digital copies in the United States . </P> <P> Critical response to the single was positive . Deborah Evans Price (with Billboard) remarked "A multitude of songs have been written and recorded in the wake of September 11, but none captures the myriad emotions unleashed by the terrorist attacks on an unsuspecting nation more perfectly than Jackson's eloquent ballad". Stephen Thomas Erlewine of the All Music Guide remarked, "Given the enormity of the subject--it's simply not something that can be summarized in song--it's a surprisingly effective and moving tune". Jackson's reaction to "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)" was this: "I think it was Hank Williams who said,' God writes the songs, I just hold the pen .' That's the way I felt with this song ." He considered the song's success personally overwhelming and uncomfortable due to its subject matter . </P> <P> After the song's success, Jim Bessman of Billboard summarized its impact: "Deeply personal and self - effacingly simple, (the song) struck a chord with poignant, understatedly eloquent contemplations and a basic, overriding "love is the answer" theme ." Dan Milliken of Country Universe rated the song number 7 on his list of the 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade . He stated that the song "cannot travel forward into the future the way other songs on this countdown can; its full impact will remain locked in the memories of those of us who lived through September 11th, 2001, and will never be experienced quite so deeply ever again ." Rolling Stone ranked it among the 40 "Saddest Country Songs" at number 11, with a reviewer claiming, "Jackson's heartfelt expression of stunned helplessness encapsulated the American collective consciousness perfectly ." Georgia Rep. Mac Collins entered the lyrics into the U.S. Congressional Record, citing the song as "an example of how all Americans can help heal our nation from the wounds we suffered on that tragic day ." </P>

Where were you when the world stopped turning on that september day