Introduction

Jackie DeShannon’s iconic song, “What The World Needs Now,” is a timeless classic that has captured the hearts of music lovers for generations. With its soulful melody and profound lyrics, this song continues to resonate with listeners worldwide. In this article, we will delve into the history of this remarkable composition, explore interesting facts about the artist behind it, and even provide you with a video link to enjoy this musical masterpiece.Jackie DeShannon | Spotify

Did You Know?

  • Song Origins: “What The World Needs Now” was written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David in 1965. It was initially intended for the Shirelles, but Jackie DeShannon’s rendition became the most famous and enduring version.
  • Jackie DeShannon: Jackie DeShannon, born Sharon Lee Myers, is an American singer-songwriter with a prolific career in the music industry. She not only made her mark as a performer but also as a songwriter, penning hits like “Bette Davis Eyes,” which became a massive success when Kim Carnes recorded it.
  • Chart-Topping Success: Upon its release in 1965, “What The World Needs Now” soared up the charts, reaching the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song’s universal message of love and unity struck a chord with listeners during a turbulent era.
  • Covered by Legends: Over the years, this song has been covered by various artists, including Dionne Warwick, Aretha Franklin, and even Burt Bacharach himself. Its enduring popularity is a testament to its timeless quality.
  • Cultural Impact: “What The World Needs Now” has been featured in numerous films, television shows, and commercials, further cementing its status as a classic that transcends generations.

Jackie De Shannon - Rotten Tomatoes

Video 

Lyrics: What The World Needs Now

What the world needs now is love sweet love
It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of
What the world needs now is love sweet love
No not just for some but for everyone

Lord we don’t need another mountain
There are mountains and hillsides enough to climb
There are oceans and rivers enough to cross
Enough to last ’til the end of time

What the world needs now is love sweet love
It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of
What the world needs now is love sweet love
No not just for some but for everyone

Lord, we don’t need another meadow
There are corn fields and wheat fields enough to grow
There are sunbeams and moonbeams enough to shine
Oh listen Lord, if you want to know

What the world needs now is love sweet love
It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of
What the world needs now is love sweet love
No not just for some but for everyone

What the world needs now is love sweet love
What the world needs now is love sweet love
What the world needs now is love sweet love

What the world needs now is love sweet love
What the world needs now is love sweet love

You Missed

MINNIE PEARL WALKED ONSTAGE AT THE GRAND OLE OPRY FOR 50 YEARS WITH A $1.98 PRICE TAG ON HER HAT — AND THEN ONE NIGHT, SHE JUST COULDN’T ANYMORE. Here’s something most people don’t think about with Minnie Pearl. That price tag hanging off her straw hat? It wasn’t random. Sarah Cannon — that was her real name — created it as a joke about a country girl too proud of her new hat to take the tag off. And audiences loved it so much that it became the most recognizable prop in country music history. For over fifty years, that tag meant Minnie was here, and everything was going to be fun. So imagine what it felt like when she couldn’t put the hat on anymore. In June 1991, Sarah had a massive stroke. She was 79. And just like that, the woman who hadn’t missed an Opry show in decades was gone from the stage. But here’s what gets me. She didn’t die in 1991. She lived another five years after that stroke, mostly out of the public eye, unable to perform, unable to be “Minnie” the way she’d always been. Her husband Henry Cannon took care of her at their Nashville home. Friends visited, but they said it was hard. The woman who made millions of people laugh couldn’t get through a full conversation some days. Roy Acuff, her old friend from the Opry, kept her dressing room exactly the way she left it. Nobody used it. The hat sat there. She passed on March 4, 1996. And what most people remember is the comedy. The “HOW-DEEE” catchphrase. The big goofy grin. What they don’t remember is that Sarah Cannon was also a serious fundraiser for cancer research. Centennial Medical Center in Nashville named their cancer center after her — not after Minnie, after Sarah. She raised millions and rarely talked about it publicly. There’s a story about the very last time Sarah tried to put on the hat at home, months after the stroke, and what her husband said to her in that moment — it’s the kind of detail that makes you see fifty years of comedy completely differently. Roy Acuff kept Minnie Pearl’s dressing room untouched for years after she left — was that loyalty to a friend, or was he holding a door open for someone he knew was never coming back?