"We Are the World" is a song by a supergroup called "USA for Africa", consisting of multiple popular 1980s singers. It was released as a charity single worldwide on March 7, 1985. It is considered a historic event due to how many of the known greatest musicians have joined the project. The track was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie.
Background[]
After the success of "Do They Know It's Christmas?" by the British supergroup Band Aid, musician and activist, Harry Belafonte (who sang the chorus) and a fundraiser, Ken Kragen had an idea in mind to gather multiple singers for a project for African famine relief.
The track was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian. It was recorded from January 21, 1985 to January 28, 1985 in A&M Recording Studios (Los Angeles, California).
In the music video, Jackson's siblings are in attendance.
Documentary[]
In 2023, Netflix confirmed that a song became a documentary.
25 for Haiti[]
"We Are the World 25 for Haiti" is a 25th anniversary remake of "We Are the World", released as a charity single by a supergroup, "Artists for Haiti" on February 12, 2010, but released after last year's death. This version was dedicated to victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake and featured more of at this time's biggest artists currently. Additionally, it features Jackson's vocals sampled from the original version along his sister, but not in the video's chorus.
Musicians featured[]
Original[]
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Chorus
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25 for Haiti[]
Solo parts
|
Chorus
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Audio[]
A demo of "We Are the World" performed solely by Michael Jackson was released in 2004 on The Ultimate Collection. It features Jackson singing different lyrics and mumbling some along the way.
The demo isn't currently available on streaming services, but can be purchased through iTunes.
- Demo - (
listen)
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
There comes a time when we heed a certain call
When the world must come together as one
There are people dying
Oh, and it's time to lend a hand to life
The greatest gift of all
[Verse 2]
We can't go on pretending day by day
That someone, somewhere will soon make a change
We are all a part of God's great big family
And the truth, you know
Love is all we need
[Chorus]
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
[Verse 3]
Well, send them your heart so they'll know that someone cares
And their lives will be stronger and free
As God has shown us by turning stone to bread
And so we all must lend a helping hand
[Chorus]
We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
Oh, 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
[Bridge]
When you're down and out, and there seems no hope at all
But if you just believe, there's no way we can fall
Well, well, well
Let us realize, oh, that a change can only come
When we stand together as one (Yeah yeah yeah yeah!)
[Chorus]
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
[Chorus]
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
[Chorus]
We are the world (We are the world)
We are the children (We are the children)
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving (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
Alright, let me hear you
[Chorus]
We are the world (We are the world)
We are the children (Yeah, we are the children)
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving (Let's start giving)
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true, we'll make a finer day
Just you and me
Come on, y'all, let me hear you
[Chorus]
We are the world (We are the world)
We are the children (We are the children)
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving (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, yeah, yeah
[Chorus]
We are the world (We are the world)
We are the children (We are the children)
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving (So let's start giving)
There's a choice we're making
Yeah, we're saving our own lives
It's true, we'll make a better day
Just you and me
[Chorus]
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
[Chorus]
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
Thank you
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
[Verse 1]
There is a time when we should hear the certain calls
'Cause the world it seems it's right in this line
'Cause there's a chance for taking in needing our own lives
It seems we need nothing at all
I used to feel I should give away my heart
And it shows that fear of needing them
Then I read the headlines and it said they're dying there
And it shows that we must heed instead
[Chorus]
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 chance we're taking
We're taking our own lives
It's true we'll make a brighter day
Just you and me
[Verse 2]
Give in your heart and you will see that someone cares
'Cause you know that they can feed them all
Then I read the paper and it said that you've been denied
And it shows the second we will call
[Chorus]
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 chance we're taking
We're taking our own lives
It's true we'll make a brighter day
Just you and me
[Bridge]
Now there's a time when we must love them all
And it seems that life, it don't make love at all
But if you'd been there, and I'll love you more and more
It seems in life, i didn't do that
[Chorus]
We are the world, the world
We are the children, are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving, let's start giving
There's a chance we're taking
We're taking our own lives
It's true we'll make a brighter day
Just you and me
We are the world, are the world
We are the children, are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving, let's start giving
But there's a chance we're taking, taking
We're taking our own lives
It's true we'll make a brighter day
Just you and me
We are the world, shalom
We are the children, shalingin
We are the ones who make a brighter day, shalom
So let's start giving, 'cause that's what we're being
There's a chance we're taking
We're taking our own lives
It's true we'll make a brighter day
Just you and me
Come on, yeah
We are the world, shalom
We are the children, shalingin
We are the ones who make a brighter day, shalom
So let's start giving, 'cause that's what we're being
There's a chance we're taking
We're taking our own lives
It's true we'll make a brighter day
Just you and me
Oh yeah, we got it
We are the world, shalom
We are the children, shalingin
We are the ones who make a brighter day, shalom
So let's start giving, cause that's what we're being
There's a chance we're taking
We're taking our own lives
It's true we'll make a brighter day
Just you and me
(Repeat & Fade Out)
[Verse 1]
There comes a time
When we heed a certain call
When the world must come together as one
There are people dying
And it's time to lend a hand to life
The greatest gift of all
We can't go on
Pretending day by day
That someone somehow will soon make a change
We are all a part of God's great big family
And the truth, you know
Love is all we need
[Chorus]
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
[Verse 2]
Well, send them your heart
So they'll know that someone cares
So their cries for help
Will not be in vain
We can't let them suffer
No, we cannot turn away
Right now they need a helping hand
[Chorus]
Nou sé mond la
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
[Verse 3]
When you're down and out
And there seems no hope at all
But if you just believe
There's no way we can fall
Well, well, well, let us realize
That a change can only come when we
Stand together as one
[Chorus]
We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
(Better 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
(It's for 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 make a better day
Just you and me
(Come on now let me hear you)
We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
(Choice were making)
(Saving our own lives)
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me
[Verse 4]
We all need somebody that we can lean on
When you wake up look around and see that your dream's gone
When the earthquakes we'll help you make it through the storm
When the floor breaks a magic carpet to stand on
We are the world united by love so strong
When the radio isn't on you can hear the songs
A guided light on the dark road you're walking on
A signpost to find the dreams you thought was gone
Someone to help you move the obstacles you stumbled on
Someone to help you rebuild after the rubble's gone
We are the world connected by a common bond
Love the whole planet's singing along
[Chorus]
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 make a better day
Just you and me
[Bridge]
Everyday citizens
Everybody pitching in
Nou sé mond la
Nou sé timoun yo
You and I
You and I
Uh, twelve days, no water
What's your will to live?
We amplified the love we watching multiply
Feeling like the world's end
We can make the world win
Like Katrina, Africa, Indonesia
And now Haiti needs us, they need us, they need us
[Chorus]
We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
Nou sé mond la
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we make a better day
Just you and me
[Outro]
Haiti, Haiti, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha
Haiti, Haiti, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha
Haiti, Haiti, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha
Haiti
Gallery[]
![Info on the "We Are the World" demo (The Ultimate Collection booklet)[3]](/wiki/File:Wearetheworlddemonotetuc.png "Wearetheworlddemonotetuc.png (147 KB)")