"
What the World Needs Now Is Love" is a 1965 popular song with lyrics by
Hal David and music composed by
Burt Bacharach. First recorded and made popular by
Jackie DeShannon, it was released on April 15, 1965, on the Imperial label after a release on sister label Liberty records the previous month was canceled. The song reached number 7 on the US
Hot 100 charts in July of that year.