Where Is The Love
Written by Ralph MacDonald / William Salter.

Released on the 1996 album The Show Must Go On.

For more than a quarter century, Ralph MacDonald has stood at the forefront of traditional and contemporary music leaving his indelible mark on nearly every genre of melody and rhythm. Ralph MacDonald was literally born into music. His father was MacBeth The Great, a popular calypsonian and band leader during the 1940's and 50's. Seated squarely on his father's lap in the West Indian and Latin cultural citadels of the Harlem Renaissance, MacDonald began his early childhood education in music and live performance.

At 17, MacDonald became the percussionist for famed songster Harry Belafonte and began a musical relationship with him that would last nearly a decade. during that time, MacDonald wrote an album of songs for Belafonte entitled Calypso Carnival. He also met his future collaborator, William Saitar. The two began writing together and formed the song writing team of MacDonald and Salter. MacDonald left Belafonte's band in 1970. He was followed shortly thereafter by Salter. The two began to aggressively market themselves. By 1971, Roberta Flack was all the rage in the music world and MacDonald had begun working with her. During a recording session, he played a sampling of his material for Roberta. She fell in love with one of tunes that MacDonald had originally intended to give to The Fifth Dimension, one which they never got a chance to hear. Roberta claimed the tune for her new album and teamed up with Donny Hathaway to record the very first version of a song that would later be covered by more than 200 different artists in over 30 languages. He also wrote "When You Smile" which was also a success for Shirley Bassey.

The song, "Where Is The Love", sold over 10 million copies and gave MacDonald his first Grammy as a writer. Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway reached No. 5 on the US Billboard with this song in 1972. It has also been sung by Stephanie Mills and Robert Brookins, included on his 1988 LP "Let It Be Me". In addition it was sung by Mica Paris and Will Downing, included on her 1989 LP "So Good".


Lyrics

Where is the love?
Where is the love?

Where is the love?
You said you'd give to me, soon as you were free
Will it ever be?
Where is the love?

You told me that you didn't love her, and you were gonna say goodbye
But if you really didn't mean it, why did you have to lie?

Where is the love?
You said was mine all mine, till the end of time
Was it just a lie?
Where is the love?

If you have had a sudden change of heart, I wish that you would tell me so
Don't leave me hangin' on to promises
You've got to let me know

Oh how I wish I never met you
I guess it must have been my fate, to fall in love with someone else's love
All I can do is wait

Where is the love?
You said was mine all mine, till the end of time
Was it just a lie?
Where is the love?
Where is the love?
Where is the love?

(Transcribed by Roman)