Tonight’s song was written after a terrible day: 11 September 2001, when thousands of people died in attacks in New York and Washington. Michael Jackson wanted to raise money for the victims’ families.
Learn from Songs · Unit 3: Questions · B1
What More Can I Give
Michael Jackson’s charity song, written after 11 September 2001 and sung with many famous voices: questions with what more and how much, more / less / fewer, and the language of giving and helping, with Philo, Sophia, Marcos and Demetria.
SOPHIA
PHILO
A song to help people.
SOPHIA
Yes, and he invited many famous singers to sing it with him. The question in the title is a question about giving: what more can I give?
DEMETRIA
We should ask that more often.
Before you listen: the song
New York and Los Angeles, 2001
After the attacks of 11 September 2001, Michael Jackson turned the song into a charity record to help the victims’ families. He recorded it with many stars, including Beyoncé, Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Shakira, Usher and Gloria Estefan, and there was a Spanish version too, “Todo para ti”.
Because of business disagreements, the planned release was cancelled, and for two years the song went unheard. It was finally released on the internet in 2003, with the money going to charity. It is one of the least-known songs of one of the most famous singers in history.
In the song, the singer asks what more he can give to show his love and help others. He wants to give everything he has.
Giving is the best answer to grief.
Listen: the question
PHILO
Listen once. How many different voices can you hear? What is the question?
SOPHIA
Then answer Section A.
💝 Listen to the song: “What More Can I Give” (Michael Jackson, 2001), by Michael Jackson and friends.Find the recording →
📜 Read the words while you listen: “What More Can I Give”, Michael Jackson and friends.Read the lyrics →
What more…? How much…? How many…?
MARCOS
What more can I give? How much money do we need? How many people can help?
SOPHIA
What more…? = what else, in addition? How much + uncountable, How many + plural. How much time? How many hours?
More, less, fewer
DEMETRIA
We need more help. We have less time. There are fewer volunteers this year.
SOPHIA
more with both countable and uncountable. less + uncountable (less money); fewer + plural (fewer people), though many people say “less” with plurals in conversation.
Giving and helping
PHILO
donate money, raise money for charity, volunteer, give away, help out, support a cause.
SOPHIA
raise money for = collect money; donate = give money or things; volunteer = work for free; give away = give something free; help out = help a little, informally.
Sophia’s comparison: the widow’s coins and the Persian king
PHILO
The rabbis say that a poor person’s small gift, given with a full heart, is worth more than a rich man’s great one. When the Tabernacle was built, the people gave so much that Moses had to tell them to stop.
SOPHIA
And Xenophon tells of the Persian king Cyrus, who said that he kept his treasure not in his storerooms but in his friends: whatever he gave them, they would give back when he needed it.
Sophia’s summary
| Words and forms | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| What more…? | what else | What more can I give? |
| How much / How many…? | quantity questions | How many people came? |
| less + uncountable / fewer + plural | smaller amount | less money, fewer people |
| raise money for / donate | giving words | They raised money for charity. |
| volunteer / give away / help out | helping words | She volunteers every week. |
Practice
Listen to the song for Section A, then do the rest. Press “Check my answers” at the end. You can try again as many times as you like.
A · Listen: the song
Listen to the song and choose the best answer.
1. Why was the song written as a charity song?
2. What is the question in the title?
3. Who sang with Michael Jackson?
4. What was the Spanish version called?
5. Why was the release delayed?
6. How was it finally released?
B · Grammar and vocabulary
Write the missing word or words.
7. What can I give? (in addition)
8. How money do we need?
9. How people can help?
10. We have time than last year. (smaller amount, uncountable)
11. There are volunteers this year. (smaller number)
12. They raised money the hospital.
C · Right or wrong?
Is the sentence correct English?
13. “How many money do you need?”
14. “There are fewer cars on Sundays.”
15. “She volunteers at the shelter.”
16. “They raised money to charity.”
Talk and write
Discussion and writing
A charity plan. In groups, plan a way to raise money for a good cause. How much do you need? How many helpers? What will people donate?
Discuss. 1. Why do musicians make charity songs? 2. What is the best thing you can give someone, apart from money? 3. Is it better to give money or time?
Write (100–120 words). What more can I give? Write about how you could help people in your town. Use what more, how much / how many, less / fewer, and three giving words.
Now play the gamebook: a flooded village, and what everyone can give.Play the gamebook →