这首支援非洲的慈善歌曲创意是由两位慈善活动家发起，由凯克尔杰克逊和莱昂纳尔里奇负责写歌。两人在杰克逊的家中不分昼夜地工作了一周完成了歌词创作。
据说作曲是莱昂纳尔里奇先录下两句旋律交给凯克尔杰克逊，杰克逊用一夜的时间完成作曲和配器。完成录音是于1985年1月28日在加州好莱坞的A&M Recording Studios。
完整故事在wikipedia
演唱者：
# Lionel Richie (There Comes)
# Lionel Richie & Stevie Wonder (when the world...)
# Stevie Wonder (there are people dying...)
# Paul Simon (oh, and its time to lend a hand)
# Paul Simon & Kenny Rogers (the greatest gift of all)
# Kenny Rogers (we can't go on)
# James Ingram (that someone somewhere)
# Tina Turner (we are all a part of)
# Billy Joel (and the truth)
# Billy Joel & Tina Turner (love is all we need)
# Michael Jackson (We are the world)
# Diana Ross (theres a choice)
# Michael Jackson & Diana Ross (Its true we'll make a better day)
# Dionne Warwick (Well, send them your heart)
# Dionne Warwick & Willie Nelson (lives will be stronger and free)
# Willie Nelson (As god has shown us)
# Al Jarreau (And so we all must lend a helping hand)
# Bruce Springsteen (We are the world)
# Kenny Logins (We are the ones to make)
# Steve Perry (theres a choice were making)
# Daryl Hall (Hall & Oates) (its true we'll make a better day, just you and me)
# Michael Jackson (when youre down and out)
# Huey Lewis (but if you just believe)
# Cyndi Lauper (well, lets realise that a change...)
# Kim Carnes (When we)
# Kim Carnes & Huey Lewis (stand together as one)
# (1 1/2 Refrains ALLE)
# Bob Dylan (theres a choice were making)
# (1 Refrain ALLE)
# Ray Charles (theres a choice were making)
# Stevie Wonder & Bruce Springsteen (we are the world)
# Stevie Wonder (theres a choice were making)
# Refrains (Stevie Wonder & Bruce Springsteen)
# Bruce Springsteen
...
