‘We Write the Story’ unveiled
We Write the Story was revealed last night during the opening ceremony of the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest final, staged in Sweden’s Malmö Arena.
The anthem, written by Benny and Björn and produced in collaboration with Swedish DJ Avicii, was performed by a large choir together with contestants from all 26 participating countries.
We Write the Story accompanied, firstly a video showing the journey of the competition from Baku in Azerbaijan (last year’s hosts) to Malmö, and then a grand Olympic-style procession of all the contestants into the arena.
We Write the Story – Avicii, Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and choir.
(Music: Benny Andersson, Lyrics: Björn Ulvaeus, Arranged by Benny Andersson and Göran Arnberg)
Justice and Peace and Liberty
We write the story
We can fulfil the Legacy
We write the song
Welcome a new Enlightenment
We write the story
We can re-cast and re-invent
We write the song
We are humans
Born free and equal
On this one earth lies our future
Reason and conscience
May they rule the world one day
Justice and Peace and Liberty
We write the story
We can fulfil the Legacy
We write the song
True to the ones who lit the light
We write the story
We have a torch to reignite
We write the song
Welcome a new Enlightenment
Welcome the glory
We can re-cast and re-invent
We can be strong
We have a choice in everything
We write the story
We have a voice and words to sing
We write the song
We are humans
Born free and equal
On this one earth lies our future
We are keepers
Reason and conscience
May they rule the world one day
Justice and Peace and Liberty
We write the story
We can fulfil the Legacy
We write the song
True to the ones who lit the light
We write the story
We have a torch to reignite
We write the song
Welcome a new Enlightenment
Welcome the glory
We can re-cast and re-invent
We can be strong
We have a choice in everything
We write the story
We have a voice and words to sing
We write the song
Free and equal
Reason and conscience
We are humans
We are one
Copyright © 2013 Mono Music AB / Kopparnäset Förlags AB
The full 3 hour televised broadcast, which also featured a performance of The Winner Takes It All by Swedish artist Sarah Dawn Finer (aka ‘Official EBU Host’ Lynda Woodruff), can be viewed until 17 June 2013 by following the link below.
We Write the Story was recently recorded in Benny’s Stockholm studio and is available to download now on iTunes.
The official DVD set of the song contest, which was won by Denmark’s Emmelie de Forest with the song Only Teardrops, will include the semi-finals of 14 and 16 May, together with last night’s final and will be available in June.
Related links:
- We Write the Story on iTunes
- SVT play (available until 17 June 2013)
Beautiful lyrics! Very suitable for the eurovision.
Great words and great music as always, if only the world would be that way, a good vision, principles, equality and opportunity for all humankind.
Benny and Bjorn, with all they do and give with their music, as well as the ‘girls’ Agnetha and Frida, and together they make great ambassadors for Sweden and the world.
You are missing Tim ”Avicii” Bergling in the autors of the song.
Hi Erik. Thanks for your message. The credit to Björn and Benny as authors of the actual song is correct.
The production of the song though, was a collaborative effort with Avicii.
Ice
Benny & Bjorn created the declaration of humanity, not just an Eurovision anthem! Thaks to Avicii too!
Since the song will only be available as download, I really would like to know who can be credited for singing and instruments – that’s why I like usual CD singles. Who is playing on the record beside Benny? Who plays the guitar? Avicii’s job seems for me audible only in the first 2 minutes, then it’s typically Benny. So what has Avicii done to the song? And is it true that all participants of the show sing together on this song??? Maybe, dearest Ice, you might know about that. It’s a pity even at Mono Music’s page you can’t read about that…
Extremely powerful and adequate song for the occasion.
Grows on you too… as all Benny’s compositions do, to be honest.
I had the feeling I knew this melody. It’s Bach’s Gavotte from the Orchestral Suite Nr. 3, BWV 1068.
Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dmXyG5PD3w
About the lyrics: “We are humans / Born free and equal”
I would ask really? Why? Is a disabled child equal? Why?
No, it’s different. We all are born very different, we all are very different and very individual. Maybe not in Scandinavia. But in the western world we are individual and different but share the same RIGHTS.Why?
Because everyone is “CREATED equal” after the images of God. Sad to see atheist Björn only give rights to people who ARE like him who he calls human. Bad for the rest of us.
I thought the intonation was so ABBA I could all most hear Benny and Bjorns voices through the choir,
Like end game from Chess.
As for the contest ,I thought it was the highest standard ever ,great songs went out in the semi final
And so many contenders to win.
Benny is a big bach fan, so it’s no surprise that his music is influenced by Bach. Kristina has some Bach influences too.
There is nothing wrong with being influenced by someone. I am an amateur photographer and at school we are teached to look at other photo’s to get inspiration.
The fact is that this song is very Benny Andersson. It has all his favorite elements. It has some nice references to ABBA songs too. The piece really grows on you, and it suited the cermony very well.
The lyric of bjorn reminds me of the one of the european Anthem. I think he did that on purpose. And we can have a discussion about the quote of ‘born free and equal’ but I truely believe that for the greater part of the world this is the case. If we don’t believe that, then we can better stop with living.
I love this piece: great music and eloquent poetry!
Hi,
I just love We write the story. I conduct à choir in Stockholm. Is there à way to buy the sheet music and the choir parts so we can sing this beautiful song with our choir?
Kind regards,
Jacob
It,s a great song it,s so Benny and Bjorn,but it,s a pitty that it,s not available on cd singel
I can see the opening ceremony with the incoming of the artists and this wonderful wonderful music again and again and again! Thank you for this exceptional piece of music!!
Greetings from Germany
Peter