"What More Can I Give" is a song by Michael Jackson released as a digital single on October 27, 2003, featuring a supergroup, titled "The All-Stars".
Background[]
The track was first written and recorded in 1992, under the title "Heal L.A." He worked on the track during the HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I sessions 'til 1998, during the Invincible sessions. During a meeting with Nelson Mandela, words "what more can i give?" came to Michael's mind, and he began rewriting the song. He wrote it about the victims of the war in Kosovo happening through 1998-1999. He intended to release it on the former and was going to present the track during the MJ & Friends concerts, however both of the ideas didn't came to fruition.[1]

What More Can I Give download website
Following the September 11 attacks in 2001, he rewrote the track again, however this time he brought multiple artists from around the world, similarly to a project from 2 decades earlier, "We Are the World". The recording took place and finished in October 2001. In addition, a Spanish version called "Todo Para Ti" was recorded and featured both English and Latin artists.[1]
A year after, the track debuted in 2002 on a New York radio, WKTU-FM, which repeatedly played the track, although without Jackson's approval. It is unknown how the radio got access to the song.[1]
On October 27, 2003, "What More Can I Give" was finally officially released, although only as a digital single. It cost $2 per download, the money was given to multiple charities. A physical release was planned, however it was cancelled. The reason for the cancellation is unknown, although likely because of the feud between Jackson and Sony at the time.[1]
Music video[]
A music video premiered at the 2003 Radio Music Awards. Includes all the artists recording the track.
Musicians featured[]
English version[]
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Spanish version[]
- Alejandro Sanz
- Cristian Castro
- Joy Enriquez
- Juan Gabriel
- Julio Iglesias
- Laura Pausini
- Luis Miguel
- Olga Tañón
- Rubén Blades
Audio[]
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
How many people will have to die before we will take a stand?
How many children will have to cry before we do all we can?
If sending your love is all you can give
To help one live
How many times can we turn our heads
And pretend we cannot see
Healing the wounds of our broken earth
We are one global family
Just sending your prayers
Is something you'll feel
Helping one heal
[Chorus 1]
What have I got that I can give?
What have I got that I can give?
(Tell me)
What have I got that I can give?
(Hey-yeah, oh-oh)
To love and to teach you
To hold and to need you
What more can I give?
[Verse 2]
Lay down our fears and reach out and make a pact
Show him the love that is in our hearts let us bring salvation back
Just sending your love has the power to heal
So let's all give
[Chorus 2]
What have I got that I can give?
(Is not allowed to give just a little bit)
What have I got that I can give?
(Everyone should be a part of it)
To love and to teach you
To hold and to need you
What more can I give?
[Bridge]
Say the words
I'll lay me down for you
Just call my name
I am your friend
See, then why do they keep teaching us
Such hate and cruelty?
We should give over and over again
[Chorus 3]
What have I got that I can give?
(We should give over and over again!)
What have I got that I can give?
(Oh my God, oh my God)
(Oh my Lord)
See, to love and to teach you
To hold and to need you
What more can I give?
What have I got that I can give?
Ah
What have I got that I can give?
(Give you, give to you)
See, to love and to teach you
To hold and to need you
What more can I give?
What have I got that I can give?
(What more can I give?)
What have I got that I can give?
(I wanna give to you, give it to you)
See, to love and to teach you
To hold and to need you
What more can I give
(they think I'm wasting my time now)
What have I got that I can give?
(To give it to you)
Ah
(we wanna give to you!)
What have I got that I can give?
To hold and conceal you
(Oh, no, yeah, yeah, yeah)
To love and to heal you
What more can I give?
(Give me, give me one time more)
What have I got that I can give?
(What I got, what have I got)
(Say your prayers)
What have I got that I can give?
(Show the world how much you really care)
To love and to teach you
(To love you, teach you)
To hold and to need you
(To hold you, to need you)
(What more?)
What more can I give?
What have I got that I can give?
(What can I give? Tell me what can I give you)
What have I got that I can give?
To hold and conceal you
To love and to heal you
What more can I give?
[Verse 1]
How many children will have to cry before we begin to make a stand?
How many lovers will have to die before we do what we can
If sending your love, is all you can give
To help one live
How many times can we turn our heads
And pretend we cannot see
Healing the wounds of our broken earth
We are one global family
Just sending your prayers
Is something you'll feel
Helping one heal
[Chorus]
What have I got that I can give?
What have I got that I can give?
What have I got that I can give?
To love and to teach you
To hold and to need you
What more can I give?
[Verse 2]
Brother to brother
Lay down our fears and reach out and make a pact
Show him the love that is in our hearts let us bring salvation back
Just sending your love has the power to heal
So let's all give
Ohh-ohh
[Chorus]
What have I got that I can give?
What have I got that I can give?
To love and to teach you
To hold and to need you
What more can I give?
[Verse 3]
Say the words
I'll lay me down for you
Just call my name
I am your friend
See, then why do they keep teaching us
Such hate and cruelty?
We should give over and over again
[Chorus]
What have I got that I can give?
(We should give over and over again!)
What have I got that I can give?
(Oh my god, oh my god)
See, to love and to teach you
To hold and to need you
What more can I give?
(They said, wasting your time, oh)
What have I got that I can give?
(So much love, so much love)
What have I got that I can give?
(Give you, give you)
See, to love and to teach you
To hold and to need you
What more can I give?
("Wasting the time", oh)
What have I got that I can give?
(To give you, give you)
What have I got that I can give?
(I wanna give to you, give it to you)
See, to love and to teach you
To hold and to need you
What more can I give
(They think I'm wasting my time now)
What have I got that I can give?
What have I got that I can give?
(Oh!)
To hold and conceal you
To love and to heal you
What more can I give?
Gallery[]
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"Look deep within yourself, and you'll find something amazing." To view the What More Can I Give gallery, click here. |
Trivia[]
- Michael Prince mentioned during the 52nd episode of the MJCast, that he has a full recording of Beyoncé singing the track by herself.[2]
- The song is one of the very few released by Jackson to have been re-recorded in another language than English, the other one being "I Just Can't Stop Loving You".