We Are the World

In 1985, a severe famine gripped the Continent of Africa.  Inspired by the earlier charity song, “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”, activist Harry Belefonte and fundraiser Ken Kragen envisioned a new song specifically to benefit famine victims in Africa.[1]

Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie wrote the song, which was recorded January 21, 1985, by an extraordinary group of the most famous performers of that time.  It became the fastest selling American pop single in history.

While written to speak to American hearts to give generously to aid a famine catastrophe on the other side of the world, the lyrics speak to us today, in our country.  We’re not called to sympathize and assist only unknown suffering peoples in other countries, our own neighbors right here in the United States.

We can't go on pretending day by day
That someone somewhere will soon make a change
We're all a part of God's great big family
And the truth, you know,
Love is all we need

A message of Love.  A message of respect.  A message to put yourself in the other person’s shoes and walk that proverbial mile.

When you're down and out
There seems no hope at all
But if you just believe
There's no way we can fall
Well, well, well
Let's realize that a change can only come
When we stand together as one

We seem to be able to stand together as one in times of most severe crises.  Issues of race, creed or sexual orientation just seem to disappear.  When the hurricane strikes or the fires rage or the car plunges into a pond, total strangers leap into action to save a life.

So, why do we find it so hard to treat each other with respect when lives and limbs are not threatened?

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 ones who make a brighter day.  We are saving our own lives.  (A little enlightened self-interest there).   So we can make a better day, if we commit ourselves to do it.

Just you and me.

_____________________

For the full lyrics, see https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/michaeljackson/weretheworldusaforafrica.html

To view the video of this inspiring song, see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I04FcfIVtcU

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[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Are_the_World