Eighties Archive Song Number
Highest Chart Position
Date Released
Date Of UK Top 40 Entry
Genre
Label
Catalogue Number
Story Behind The Song
USA for Africa’s “We Are The World” brought together some of the biggest names in American popular music for a recording with a humanitarian purpose. Released in 1985, the song was created to raise funds for famine relief in Africa, following the success of the British charity project Band Aid and its recording of “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”
Written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, and produced by Quincy Jones, the song featured an extraordinary gathering of performers, including Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, Diana Ross, Tina Turner, Ray Charles and Bob Dylan. Each artist contributed a distinctive vocal performance, creating a musical collaboration that crossed genres and generations. The recording took place in Los Angeles on 28 January 1985, following the American Music Awards, with Quincy Jones famously encouraging everyone to leave their egos outside before entering the studio.
Musically, “We Are The World” is a carefully constructed ballad, beginning with individual solo performances before building towards a powerful communal chorus. Its lyrics focus on shared responsibility, compassion and the belief that ordinary people can make a difference when they work together. The repeated refrain provides a simple but effective message of unity.
The project became a defining moment in the history of charity recordings, helping raise substantial funds for humanitarian assistance through the USA For Africa organisation.
More than simply an impressive collection of famous voices, “We Are The World” remains a reminder of music’s ability to bring people together around a common cause. Its message of generosity and collective responsibility continues to resonate decades after its recording.
The song peaked at No. 01 in the UK singles chart on 20th April 1985.
UK 7'' SLEEVE COVERS
Shown below are the picture sleeve covers (front and back) for the UK release of this single. If no cover sleeve was issued in the UK, we will display another country’s picture sleeve.
UK 7'' TRACK LISTING
| A-Side | USA For Africa We Are The World (Single Version) (7:07) (Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson) Produced By Quincy Jones |
| B-Side | Quincy Jones Grace (4:30) (Quincy Jones) Produced By Quincy Jones |
CHART PERFORMANCE (80s Chart only)
| UK Top 40 Chart Run [7 Weeks] – 13th April 1985 – 25th May 1985 |
OFFICIALLY RELEASED VERSIONS
All officially released versions that appeared in the 80s:-
- We Are The World (Single Version) (7:07)
- We Are The World (Radio Edit) (6:22)
- We Are The World (Extended Version) (7:19)
To hear the FULL version of the songs below, you will need an active Spotify account (Free one). Just log in on your desktop/tablet or phone to hear the FULL versions.
OFFICIAL VIDEO
SONG LYRICS
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
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
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
Well, send them your heart so they 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
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
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)
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)
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)
We are the world (We are the world)
We are the children (Said 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 brighter day
Just you and me
Come on, y’all, let me hear you
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
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 (Yeah, yeah, woah-oh, oh-oh)
We are the world (We are the world; ooh, ooh-ooh)
We are the children (We are the children)
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let’s start givin’ (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)
We are the children (We are the children; yes, sir)
We are the ones that make a brighter day (We are the world)
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, hoo-hoo
We are the world (Good God; 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)
(Alright, did you hear what I said?)
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
Written By Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie
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