Written and Composed by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie





There comes a time when we need 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, somehow 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



( 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



Well, send'em 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



( REPEAT CHORUS )



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 one change can only come

When we stand together as one



( REPEAT CHORUS AND FADE )



------------------------------------------------------------



There comes a time when we heed a certain call (Lionel Richie)

When the world must come together as one (Lionel Richie & Stevie Wonder)

There are people dying (Stevie Wonder)

Oh, and it's time to lend a hand to life (Paul Simon)

The greatest gift of all (Paul Simon/Kenny Rogers)



We can't go on pretending day by day (Kenny Rogers)

That someone, somehow will soon make a change (James Ingram)

We're all a part of God's great big family (Tina Turner)

And the truth (Billy Joel)

You know love is all we need (Tina Turner/Billy Joel)



( CHORUS )

We are the world, we are the children

We are the ones who make a brighter day so let's start giving (Michael Jackson)

There's a choice we're making we're saving our own lives (Diana Ross)

It's true we'll make a better day just you and me (Michael Jackson/Diana Ross)



Well, send'em your heart so they know that someone cares (Dionne Warwick)

And their lives will be stronger and free (Dionne Warwick/Willie Nelson)

As God has shown us by turning stone to bread (Willie Nelson)

And so we all must lend a helping hand (Al Jurreau)



( REPEAT CHORUS )

We are the world, we are the children (Bruce Springsteen)

We are the ones who make a brighter day so let's start giving (Kenny Logins)

There's a choice we're making we're saving our own lives (Steve Perry)

It's true we'll make a better day just you and me (Daryl Hall)



When you're down and out there seems no hope at all (Michael Jackson)

But if you just believe there's no way we can fall (Huey Lewis)

Well, well, well, let's realize that a change can only come (Cyndi Lauper)

When we (Kim Carnes)

stand together as one (Kim Carnes/Cyndi Lauper/Huey Lewis)



(REPEAT CHORUS AND FADE )



(additional ad-lib vox by Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, James Ingram