The song you are about to hear was first performed at a concert given to raise money to fight against poverty in Africa. Its message is simple, "There are people dying and it is time to help, to lend a hand. It's no use pretending that someone somewhere will do it for us. So let's start giving to those with less than ourselves." The message is clear. The song sings that we are all of us, everyone in the world, part of one great big family. We should care for one another, because, as the song says,

We are the world...

We are the ones

Who make a brighter day.

Now here is the song:

We Are the World
Michael Jackson

There comes a time
When we heard a certain call,
When the world
Must come together as one.
There are people dying;
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 somewhere will soon
Make a change.
We are the 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 are making,
We are saving our own lives.
It's true we'll make a better day,
Just you and me.
Send them your heart
So they'll know that someone cares.
And their lives
Will be stronger and free.
As God has shown us,
By turning stones to bread
So we all must lend a helping hand.
When you're down and out,
There seems no hope at all.
But if you just believe,
There's no way we can fall.
Let us realize
That a change can only come
When we started together as one.

Listen to the recording two or three times and then think over the following questions:

1. Faith, hope and charity are traditionally grouped together as three important virtues. Which do you think the singer Michael Jackson may consider as the most important?
2. Some say that charity begins at home, that we should take care of those closest to us rather than worrying about strangers. What do you think Michael Jackson would say to that?
3. In the words of the song, to solve the problems of this world, "Love is all we need." Is it?
4. Can you figure out what the stories of this unit are going to be about?

The following phrase in the recording may be new to you:

down and out a. 穷困潦倒;落魄