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"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]

Wmcigsite

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[]

  • Michael Jackson
  • Michael McCary
  • Mýa
  • *NSYNC
  • Nick Carter
  • Reba McEntire
  • Ricky Martin
  • Shakira
  • Shawn Stockman
  • Thalia
  • Tom Petty
  • Usher
  • Ziggy Marley

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[]


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".

References[]

Discography
Studio albums
Got to Be ThereBenMusic & MeForever, Michael Off the WallThrillerBadDangerousHIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book IInvincible
Other albums
Farewell My Summer LoveDecadeBlood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the MixThe Ultimate CollectionThriller 2511th Studio AlbumMichaelBad 25XscapeScreamThriller 40
Singles
"Got to Be There" • "Rockin' Robin" • "I Wanna Be Where You Are" • "Ain't No Sunshine" • "Ben" • "With a Child's Heart" • "Music & Me" • "We're Almost There" • "Just a Little Bit of You" • "You Can't Win" • "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" • "Rock with You" • "Off the Wall" • "She's Out of My Life" • "Girlfriend" • "One Day in Your Life" • "The Girl is Mine" • "Billie Jean" • "Beat It" • "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" • "Human Nature" • "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" • "Thriller" • "Happy" • "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" • "Bad" • "The Way You Make Me Feel" • "Man in the Mirror" • "Dirty Diana" • "Another Part of Me" • "Smooth Criminal" • "Leave Me Alone" • "Liberian Girl" • "Black or White" • "Remember the Time" • "In the Closet" • "Jam" • "Who Is It" • "Heal the World" • "Give In to Me" • "Will You Be There" • "Gone Too Soon" • "Scream/Childhood" • "You Are Not Alone" • "Earth Song" • "They Don't Care About Us" • "Stranger in Moscow" • "Blood on the Dance Floor" • "HIStory/Ghosts" • "Smile" • "You Rock My World" • "Butterflies" • "Cry" • "What More Can I Give" • "One More Chance" • "The Girl is Mine 2008" • "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008" • "Hold My Hand" • "Mind Is the Magic" • "Hollywood Tonight" • "Behind the Mask" • "(I Like) The Way You Love Me" • "Love Never Felt So Good" • "A Place with No Name" • "Blood on the Dance Floor X Dangerous (The White Panda Mash-Up)"
Promotional singles
"Someone in the Dark" • "Speed Demon" • "Someone Put Your Hand Out" • "This Time Around" • "Is It Scary" • "Speechless" • "Unbreakable" • "Cheater" • "This Is It"
Non-single songs
"Girl Don't Take Your Love from Me" • "In Our Small Way" • "Wings of My Love" • "Maria (You Were the Only One)" • "Love Is Here and Now You're Gone" • "You've Got a Friend" • "Greatest Show on Earth" • "People Make the World go Round" • "We've Got a Good Thing Going" • "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" • "My Girl" • "What Goes Around Comes Around" • "Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day" • "You Can Cry on My Shoulder" • "Up Again" • "All the Things You Are" • "Too Young" • "Doggin' Around" • "Euphoria" • "Morning Glow" • "Johnny Raven" • "Take Me Back" • "Cinderella Stay Awhile" • "We've Got Forever" • "You Are There" • "Dapper Dan" • "Dear Michael" • "I'll Come Home To You" • "Workin' Day and Night" • "Get on the Floor" • "I Can't Help It" • "It's The Falling In Love" • "Burn This Disco Out" • "Someone in the Dark" • "Baby Be Mine" • "The Lady In My Life" • "Just Good Friends" • "Why You Wanna Trip on Me" • "She Drives Me Wild" • "Can't Let Her Get Away" • "Keep the Faith" • "Dangerous" • "D.S." • "Money" • "Come Together" • "Tabloid Junkie" • "2 Bad" • "Little Susie / Pie Jesu" • "On the Line" • "Morphine" • "Superfly Sister" • "Carousel" • "Streetwalker" • "Fly Away" • "Heartbreaker" • "Invincible" • "Break of Dawn" • "Heaven Can Wait" • "2000 Watts" • "You Are My Life" • "Privacy" • "Don't Walk Away" • "The Lost Children" • "Whatever Happens" • "Threatened" • "Shout" • "Sunset Driver" • "Scared of the Moon" • "We Are Here to Change the World" • "Monkey Business" • "Fall Again" • "In the Back" • "Beautiful Girl" • "We've Had Enough" • "For All Time" • "Got the Hots" • "Best of Joy" • "(I Can't Make It) Another Day" • "Much Too Soon" • "Don't Be Messin' 'Round" • "I'm So Blue" • "Abortion Papers" • "Free" • "Price of Fame" • "Al Capone" • "Chicago" • "Loving You" • "Slave to the Rhythm" • "Do You Know Where Your Children Are" • "Blue Gangsta" • "Xscape" • "Starlight" • "Who Do You Know" • "The Toy" • "What a Lovely Way to Go" • "She's Trouble"
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