八十年代中期,非洲许多国家发生饥荒,饿殍遍野,难民无数。为了援救非洲难民,爱尔兰歌星鲍勃·吉尔多夫(BobGeldof)首先提议以义演的方式,号召全世界各国艺术家贡献自己的一份力量。美国著名歌星迈克尔·杰克逊(Michael Jackson)和莱昂内尔·里奇(Lionel Richie)立即响应,并于1985年1月合写了这首歌。他们邀请美国当时最为著名的54位歌星一夜之间录完了这首歌。这支歌队称为美国援非乐队“USA For Africa“,就是为援助非洲发生饥荒的难民募捐义演而专门组成的。1985年2月,迈克尔·杰克逊与莱昂内尔·里奇以及本歌俱荣获美国葛莱美音乐大奖。
《We Are The World》
词曲:Michael Jackson & Lionel Rich 歌词及演唱者如下:
There comes a time when we heed a certain call (Lionel Richie 莱昂纳尔.里奇)
When the world must come together as one (Lionel Richie 莱昂纳尔.里奇& Stevie Wonder史蒂夫.汪德)
There are people dying (Stevie Wonder史蒂夫.汪德)
Oh, and it“s time to lend a hand to life (Paul Simon保罗西蒙)
The greatest gift of all (Paul Simon保罗西蒙/Kenny Rogers肯尼.洛杰斯)
We can“t go on pretending day by day (Kenny Rogers肯尼.洛杰斯)
That someone, somehow will soon make a change (James Ingram詹姆斯殷格朗)
We“re all a part of God“s great big family (Tina Turner蒂娜.特纳)
And the truth (Billy Joel比利.乔)
You know love is all we need (Tina Turner蒂娜.特纳/Billy Joel比利.乔) ( 合唱 )
We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day so let“s start giving (Michael Jackson迈克·杰克逊)
There“s a choice we“re making we“re saving our own lives (Diana Ross黛安娜·罗斯)
It“s true we“ll make a better day just you and me (Michael Jackson迈克·杰克逊/Diana Ross黛安娜·罗斯)
Well, send““em you your heart so they know that someone cares (Dionne Warwick狄昂华薇克)
And their lives will be stronger and free (Dionne Warwick狄昂华薇克/Willie Nelson威利.纳尔逊)
As God has shown us by turning stone to bread (Willie Nelson威利.纳尔逊)
And so we all must lend a helping hand (Al Jurreau) (合唱重复 )
We are the world, we are the children (Bruce Springsteen布鲁斯.斯普林斯汀)
We are the ones who make a brighter day so let“s start giving (Kenny Logins肯尼.罗杰斯)
There“s a choice we“re making we“re saving our own lives (Steve Perry史蒂夫.佩里)
It“s true we“ll make a better day just you and me (Daryl Hall达瑞.霍尔)
When you“re down and out there seems no hope at all (Michael Jackson迈克·杰克逊)
But if you just believe there“s no way we can fall (Huey Lewis休路易斯)
Well, well, well, let“s realize that a change can only come (Cyndi Lauper)
When we (Kim Carnes金康恩丝)
stand together as one (Kim Carnes/Cyndi Lauper/Huey Lewis)