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Credits
PERFORMING ARTISTS
John Legend
Vocals
The Roots
Performer
Common
Vocals
Melanie Fiona
Vocals
Jessyca Wilson
Background Vocals
Ashley Simpson
Background Vocals
Matia Washington
Background Vocals
Lenesha Randolph
Background Vocals
Lacey Jones
Background Vocals
Denise Powell
Background Vocals
Natalie Curtis
Background Vocals
Tamika Smith
Background Vocals
Linwood Smith, Jr.
Background Vocals
Timiney Figueroa
Background Vocals
Randy Bowland
Guitar
Ahmir Thompson
Drums
Owen Biddle
Bass
Larry Gold
String Conductor
Emma Kummrow
Violin
Igor Szwec
Violin
Olga Konopelsky
Violin
Charles Parker
Violin
Gregory Teperman
Violin
Michelle Bishop
Violin
Davis Barnett
Viola
Ruth Frazier
Viola
Jennie Lorenzo
Cello
Norelle
Background Vocals
Timiney Figuero-Caton
Background Vocals
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
John Whitehead
Composer
Gene McFadden
Composer
Victor Carstarphen
Composer
Larry Gold
String Arranger
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
John Legend
Producer
Questlove
Producer
James Poyser
Producer
Jon Smeltz
Recording Engineer
Nick Banns
Recording Engineer
Bojan Dugic
Recording Engineer
Derik Lee
Assistant Engineer
Alex Venguer
Recording Engineer
Michael Ilbert
Recording Engineer
Joe Peluso
Recording Engineer
Dustin Capulong
Assistant Engineer
Jimmy Douglass
Mixing Engineer
Maki Suzuki
Assistant Engineer
Darren Moore
Assistant Engineer
Dave Kutch
Mastering Engineer
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Wake up everybody no more sleeping in bed
No more backward thinking time for thinking ahead
The world has changed so very much from what it used to be
There is so much hatred, war and poverty
Oh yeah, yeah-yeah
[Verse 2]
Wake up all the teachers time to teach a new way
Maybe then they'll listen to what you have to say
'Cause they're the ones who's coming up and the world is in their hands
When you teach the children, teach them the very best you can
Oh yeah
[Verse 3]
The world won't get no better
If we just let it be, oh no
The world won't get no better
We got to change it yeah, just you and me
[Verse 4]
Wake up all the doctors make the old people well
They're the ones who suffer and who catch all the hell
They don't have so very long before the judgement day (Oh, ooh)
So won't you make them happy before they pass away, oh yeah
[Verse 5]
Wake up all the builders have to build a new land
I know we can do it if we all lend a hand
The only thing we have to do is put it in our minds
Surely things will work out because they do every time
Yeah (Yeah)
[Verse 6]
The world won't get no better
If we just let it be, oh no
The world won't get no better
We got to change it yeah, just you and me
[Verse 7]
Yeah-yeah-yeah-yea (Yeah, yeah)
[Verse 8]
It's the God hour, the morning I wake up
Just for the breath of life I thank my maker
My mom say I come from hustlers and shakers
My mind building on skyscrapers and acres
He said take us back to where we belong
I try to write a song as sweet as the Psalms
Though I'm the type to bear arms and wear my heart on my sleeve
Even when I fell in God I believe we that days at
Weave through the maze and the season so amazing
Feed them and raise them seasons are asian
Earthquakes, wars and rumors, I want us to get by but we more than consumers
We more than shooters, more than looters
Created in his image so God live through us
And even in this generation living through computers
Only love, love, love can reboot us, come on
[Verse 9]
Oh, wake up everybody no more sleeping in bed
Oh, wake up everybody, yeah, yeah
Is cause' I need a little help, I can't do it all
Oh, I need a little help ya'll, come on, come on, come on, come on
I need a little help y'all, can't do it alone (Oh, oh-oh-oh-oh)
Oh, I need a little help y'all, can't do it alone
[Verse 10]
Wake up everybody
Wake up everybody
Wake up everybody
Written by: Gene McFadden, John Whitehead, Victor Carstarphen