Written and composed by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie
(Technically a one hit wonder)
[Lionel Richie]
There comes a time when we heed a certain call
[Lionel Richie & Stevie Wonder]
When the world must come together as one
[Stevie Wonder]
There are people dying
[Paul Simon]
And it's time to lend a hand to life
[Paul Simon & Kenny Rogers]
The greatest gift of all
[Kenny Rogers]
We can't go on pretending day by day
[James Ingram]
That someone, somewhere will soon make a change
[Tina Turner]
We are all part of god's great big family
[Billy Joel]
And the truth, you know, love is all we need
Chorus:
[Michael Jackson]
We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
[Diana Ross]
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
[Michael & Diana Ross]
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me
[Dionne Warwick]
Send them your heart
So they'll know that someone cares
[Dionne Warwick & Willie Nelson]
And their lives will be stronger and free
[Willie Nelson]
As God has shown us by turning stones to bread
[Al Jarreau]
So we all must lend a helping hand
Chorus:
[Bruce Springsteen, Kenny Loggins, Steve Perry & Daryl Hall]
We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me
[Michael Jackson]
When you're down and out, there seems no hope at all
[Huey Lewis]
But if you just believe there's no way we can fall
[Cindy Lauper]
Well, well, well, well let us realize that a change can only come
[Kim Carnes]
When we stand together as one
Chorus:
[Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen & James Ingram]
We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me
We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me
We are the world....
We are the world Video (MV)
"We Are the World" is a charity single recorded by the supergroup USA for Africa in 1985. It was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian for the album We Are the World. With sales in excess of 20 million physical copies, it is the eighth-best-selling single of all time, meant to raise money for the 1983-1985 famine in Ethiopia.
Soon after the British group Band Aid released "Do They Know It's Christmas?" in December 1984, musician and activist Harry Belafonte decided to create an American benefit single for African famine relief. With fundraiser Ken Kragen, he enlisted several musicians. Jackson and Richie completed the writing the night before the first recording session, on January 21, 1985.
The event brought together some of the era's best-known musicians. One musician deliberately omitted was John Denver, who had asked to participate but was rejected despite his previous commitment to charity work. Ken Kragen said it was due to some people feeling that Denver's image would affect the credibility of the song as a pop-rock anthem. "I didn't agree with this assessment," Kragen said, but reluctantly turned Denver down. Denver recalled the rejection in his 1994 autobiography "Take Me Home", stating that "It broke my heart not to be included."
"We Are the World" was released on March 7, 1985, as the first single from the album by Columbia Records. It topped music charts throughout the world and became the fastest-selling U.S. pop single in history. "We Are the World" was certified quadruple platinum, becoming the first single to be certified multi-platinum. Its awards include four Grammy Awards, one American Music Award, and a People's Choice Award.
"We Are the World" was promoted with a music video, a VHS, a special edition magazine, a simulcast, and several books, posters, and shirts. The promotion and merchandise helped "We Are the World" raise more than $80 million (equivalent to $222 million in 2023) for humanitarian aid in Africa and the United States. Another cast of singers recorded a new version, "We Are the World 25 for Haiti", to raise relief following the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
Performed By:
USA For AfricaSoon after the British group Band Aid released "Do They Know It's Christmas?" in December 1984, musician and activist Harry Belafonte decided to create an American benefit single for African famine relief. With fundraiser Ken Kragen, he enlisted several musicians. Jackson and Richie completed the writing the night before the first recording session, on January 21, 1985.
The event brought together some of the era's best-known musicians. One musician deliberately omitted was John Denver, who had asked to participate but was rejected despite his previous commitment to charity work. Ken Kragen said it was due to some people feeling that Denver's image would affect the credibility of the song as a pop-rock anthem. "I didn't agree with this assessment," Kragen said, but reluctantly turned Denver down. Denver recalled the rejection in his 1994 autobiography "Take Me Home", stating that "It broke my heart not to be included."
"We Are the World" was released on March 7, 1985, as the first single from the album by Columbia Records. It topped music charts throughout the world and became the fastest-selling U.S. pop single in history. "We Are the World" was certified quadruple platinum, becoming the first single to be certified multi-platinum. Its awards include four Grammy Awards, one American Music Award, and a People's Choice Award.
"We Are the World" was promoted with a music video, a VHS, a special edition magazine, a simulcast, and several books, posters, and shirts. The promotion and merchandise helped "We Are the World" raise more than $80 million (equivalent to $222 million in 2023) for humanitarian aid in Africa and the United States. Another cast of singers recorded a new version, "We Are the World 25 for Haiti", to raise relief following the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
Genre(s): Pop.gospel, One Hit Wonder
Language: English
Length: 7:07
Written by: Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie
Released: March 7th, 1985
Year: 1985
USA For Africa - We are the world Lyrics
We currently do not have these lyrics.
If you would like to submit them, please use the form below.
We currently do not have these lyrics.
If you would like to submit them, please use the form below.
Written and composed by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie
(Technically a one hit wonder)
[Lionel Richie]
There comes a time when we heed a certain call
[Lionel Richie & Stevie Wonder]
When the world must come together as one
[Stevie Wonder]
There are people dying
[Paul Simon]
And it's time to lend a hand to life
[Paul Simon & Kenny Rogers]
The greatest gift of all
[Kenny Rogers]
We can't go on pretending day by day
[James Ingram]
That someone, somewhere will soon make a change
[Tina Turner]
We are all part of god's great big family
[Billy Joel]
And the truth, you know, love is all we need
Chorus:
[Michael Jackson]
We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
[Diana Ross]
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
[Michael & Diana Ross]
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me
[Dionne Warwick]
Send them your heart
So they'll know that someone cares
[Dionne Warwick & Willie Nelson]
And their lives will be stronger and free
[Willie Nelson]
As God has shown us by turning stones to bread
[Al Jarreau]
So we all must lend a helping hand
Chorus:
[Bruce Springsteen, Kenny Loggins, Steve Perry & Daryl Hall]
We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me
[Michael Jackson]
When you're down and out, there seems no hope at all
[Huey Lewis]
But if you just believe there's no way we can fall
[Cindy Lauper]
Well, well, well, well let us realize that a change can only come
[Kim Carnes]
When we stand together as one
Chorus:
[Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen & James Ingram]
We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me
We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me
We are the world....
(Technically a one hit wonder)
[Lionel Richie]
There comes a time when we heed a certain call
[Lionel Richie & Stevie Wonder]
When the world must come together as one
[Stevie Wonder]
There are people dying
[Paul Simon]
And it's time to lend a hand to life
[Paul Simon & Kenny Rogers]
The greatest gift of all
[Kenny Rogers]
We can't go on pretending day by day
[James Ingram]
That someone, somewhere will soon make a change
[Tina Turner]
We are all part of god's great big family
[Billy Joel]
And the truth, you know, love is all we need
Chorus:
[Michael Jackson]
We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
[Diana Ross]
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
[Michael & Diana Ross]
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me
[Dionne Warwick]
Send them your heart
So they'll know that someone cares
[Dionne Warwick & Willie Nelson]
And their lives will be stronger and free
[Willie Nelson]
As God has shown us by turning stones to bread
[Al Jarreau]
So we all must lend a helping hand
Chorus:
[Bruce Springsteen, Kenny Loggins, Steve Perry & Daryl Hall]
We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me
[Michael Jackson]
When you're down and out, there seems no hope at all
[Huey Lewis]
But if you just believe there's no way we can fall
[Cindy Lauper]
Well, well, well, well let us realize that a change can only come
[Kim Carnes]
When we stand together as one
Chorus:
[Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen & James Ingram]
We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me
We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me
We are the world....
Writer: Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie
Copyright: Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Copyright: Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.