[Verse 1] Turn on the morning news, Another hard day has begun, Everybody's choosing sides, Everybody reaching for a gun, So much anger in the air, Seems like kindness is on the run. [Verse 2] People shouting past each other, Nobody hears a word that's said, Building walls between us, While fear keeps filling up our heads, We keep looking for somebody to blame, While another little piece of hope turns dead. [Chorus] What this world needs is love, A little mercy from above, A hand to hold when times get rough, Lord knows we've hurt enough. You can have your silver and gold, You can fight until you're old, But when everything is said and done, What this world needs is love. [Instrumental — Guitar and Tenor Sax] [Verse 3] There's a mother somewhere crying, There's a lonely old man down the road, There's a child trying to understand Why everybody carries such a heavy load, We got more ways to reach each other Than this world has ever known. [Verse 4] But a telephone can't hold you, And a screen can't dry your eyes, No clever words can comfort When another good thing dies, Sometimes all a broken heart needs Is somebody standing by its side. [Chorus] What this world needs is love, A little mercy from above, A hand to hold when times get rough, Lord knows we've hurt enough. You can have your silver and gold, You can fight until you're old, But when everything is said and done, What this world needs is love. [Extended Instrumental — Slow Blues Guitar] [Verse 5] I don't know how to fix it, Don't claim I've got the cure, But I've lived enough to know There's one thing I am sure, Hate will keep on taking, But love can still endure. [Final Chorus] What this world needs is love, A little mercy from above, A hand to hold when times get rough, Lord knows we've hurt enough. Let the angry voices fade, Let the old debts all be paid, When everything is said and done, What this world needs is love. [Other] Yeah, when everything is said and done, What this world needs is love. Just a little love... That's enough.
