We Are The World – Bilingual Lyrics French/English

• By: USA For Africa

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language is about more than just words; it's about understanding culture and shared human experiences. "We Are The World" offers a unique opportunity to explore the English language through a song that transcended music to become a global humanitarian movement. The lyrics are clear, powerful, and carry a universal message of hope and unity, making them accessible for learners. By studying this song, you can learn vocabulary related to compassion and social action, while also gaining insight into a significant moment in pop culture history where music was a powerful force for positive change.

[English]

There comes a time when we answer a certain call

When the world must unite as one

There are people dying

Oh, and it's time to help those in need

The greatest gift of all

We can't keep pretending day after day

That someone, somehow will soon bring change

We're all part of God's great big family

And the truth is, love is all we need

We are the world, we are the children

We are the ones who create a brighter day

So let's start giving

There's a choice we are making

We're saving our own lives

It's true, we will 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 into bread

And so we all must lend a helping hand

We are the world, we are the children

We are the ones who create a brighter day

So let's start giving

There's a choice we are making

We're saving our own lives

It's true, we will make a better day

Just you and me

When you're down and out

There seems to be no hope at all

But if you just believe

There's no way we can fail

Well, well, well, let's realize

Oh, that change can only come

When we stand together as one (yeah, yeah, yeah)

We are the world, we are the children

We are the ones who create a brighter day

So let's start giving

There's a choice we are making

We're saving our own lives

It's true, we will make a better day

Just you and me

We are the world, we are the children

We are the ones who create a brighter day

So let's start giving

There's a choice we are making

We're saving our own lives

It's true, we will make a better day

Just you and me

We are the world, we are the children

We are the ones who create a brighter day

So let's start giving

There's a choice we are making

We're saving our own lives

It's true, we will make a better day

Just you and me

We are the world, we are the children

We are the ones who create a brighter day

So let's start giving

There's a choice we are making

We're saving our own lives

It's true, we will 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 create a brighter day

So let's start giving

(So let's start giving)

There's a choice we are making

We're saving our own lives

It's true, we will make a better day

Just you and me

We are the world, we are the children

We are the ones who create a brighter day

So let's start giving

(So let's start giving)

There's a choice we are making

We're saving our own lives

It's true, we will make a better day

Just you and me

We are the world, we are the children

We are the ones who create a brighter day

So let's start giving

(So let's start giving)

There's a choice we are making

We're saving our own lives

It's true, we will make a better day

Just you and me

We are the world, we are the children

We are the ones who create a brighter day

So let's start giving

(So let's start giving)

There's a choice we are making

We're saving our own lives

It's true, we will make a better day

Just you and me

We are the world, we are the children

We are the ones who create a brighter day

So let's start giving

(So let's start giving)

There's a choice we are making

We're saving our own lives

...

[French]

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, 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

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 you 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

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

There seems no hope at all

But if you just believe

There's no way we can fall

Well, well, well, let's realize

Oh that a change can only come

When we, stand together as one (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 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

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

(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

(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

(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

(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

(So let's start giving)

There's a choice we're making

We're saving our own lives

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole
world /wɜːrld/ A1	noun - the earth, together with all of its countries, peoples, and natural features.
people /ˈpiːpl/ A1	noun - human beings in general or considered collectively
dying /ˈdaɪɪŋ/ B1	verb - to stop living
hand /hænd/ A1	noun - the end part of a person's arm beyond the wrist, including the fingers and thumb.
life /laɪf/ A1	noun - the condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death.
gift /ɡɪft/ A2	noun - something given voluntarily without payment in return, as to show favour toward someone, honour an occasion, or make a gesture of assistance; present.
day /deɪ/ A1	noun - each of the twenty-four-hour periods, reckoned from one midnight to the next, into which a year is divided, and corresponding to one rotation of the earth on its axis.
change /tʃeɪndʒ/ A2	noun - the act or instance of making or becoming different. verb - to make or become different.
part /pɑːrt/ A2	noun - some but not all of something.
family /ˈfæməli/ A1	noun - a group consisting of parents and children living together in a household.
truth /truːθ/ B1	noun - the quality or state of being true.
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - an intense feeling of affection. verb - feel deep affection for (someone).
children /ˈtʃɪldrən/ A1	noun - a young human being below the age of puberty or full physical development.
brighter /ˈbraɪtər/ B2	adjective - giving out or reflecting a lot of light; shining.
choice /tʃɔɪs/ B1	noun - an act of selecting or making a decision when faced with two or more possibilities.
lives /laɪvz/ A1	noun - the condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death.
better /ˈbɛtər/ A1	adjective - more suitable, agreeable, or pleasing.
heart /hɑːrt/ A1	noun - a hollow muscular organ that pumps the blood through the circulatory system by rhythmic contraction and dilation. In vertebrates there may be one or more hearts.
hope /hoʊp/ A2	noun - a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. verb - want something to happen or be the case.
stone /stoʊn/ A2	noun - the hard, solid, nonmetallic mineral matter of which rock is made, especially as a building material.
bread /bred/ A1	noun - food made of flour, water, and yeast or another leavening agent, mixed together and baked.

Key Grammar Structures

• There comes a time when we heed a certain call

  ➔ Subject-verb inversion (There comes a time)

  ➔ The sentence starts with "There" followed by the verb "comes". This is used to introduce a subject that is mentioned later ("a time"). It adds emphasis or a more formal tone.

• When the world must come together as one

  ➔ Modal verb of obligation (must)

  ➔ "Must" indicates a strong obligation or necessity. Here, it emphasizes the importance of global unity.

• We can't go on pretending day by day

  ➔ Phrasal verb (go on) + gerund (pretending)

  ➔ "Go on" means to continue. It's followed by the gerund "pretending" because it functions as the object of the verb phrase.

• That someone, somehow will soon make a change

  ➔ Future Simple (will make)

  ➔ "Will make" expresses a future action or prediction. In this case, it's a hope or expectation for a change in the future.

• We're all a part of God's great big family

  ➔ Possessive ('s)

  ➔ "God's" shows possession, indicating that the family belongs to or is associated with God.

• There's a choice we're making

  ➔ Present continuous for future arrangements (we're making)

  ➔ While it looks like present continuous, "we're making" implies a decision already made and a course of action planned for the future. It suggests a commitment.

• As God has shown us, By turning stone to bread

  ➔ Present Perfect (has shown)

  ➔ "Has shown" connects a past action with present relevance. It emphasizes the enduring effect of God's act.

• But if you just believe, There's no way we can fall

  ➔ Conditional Sentence (Type 1)

  ➔ This is a type 1 conditional sentence. "If you believe" (present simple) sets the condition, and "there's no way we can fall" (future possibility with a modal verb) is the likely result.

• Oh that a change can only come When we, stand together as one

  ➔ Subjunctive mood (can only come)

  ➔ The use of "can" here in the phrase "can only come" implies a possibility or condition that is not certain. It expresses a hope or desire about a future event that depends on a certain condition being met (standing together).