Song Clearance Sheet
3 sources citedWe Are Family
Disco1970s120BPM
A majKey
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The verdict
Documented Sampling History
Confirmed songwriters of record (Bernard Edwards & Nile Rodgers), no dispute found — completing the “We Are Family” album cluster with “He’s the Greatest Dancer” and “Lost in Music” already in this catalogue. The verses’ documented origin (drawn almost verbatim from the label executive’s own description of the sisters) is presented factually.
Quick Facts
Released1979
AlbumWe Are Family
GenreDisco, Funk, R&B
LabelCotillion Records
ProducerNile Rodgers & Bernard Edwards
Recorded atPower Station, New York City
More infoWikipedia → · Discogs →
Who you need to ask
The songwriters of record — Bernard Edwards & Nile Rodgers
Wikipedia → · checked Jul 2026
The current administrator — Not confirmed — Cotillion; needs a Songview/Discogs lookup
Unknown · checked Jul 2026
Has it been reused?
A much-covered, much-licensed anthem; completes the “We Are Family” album cluster with “He’s the Greatest Dancer” and “Lost in Music” already in this catalogue.
Do they allow reuse?
No standalone policy found; confirmed songwriters of record.
Related Songs
Same album, answer records, and songs worth knowing about
Same album, “We Are Family” (already in this catalogue)
Same album, “We Are Family” (already in this catalogue)
Who Owns It
Licenses explained →The two permissions you need, and who holds them
The song itself (the writing)Bernard Edwards & Nile Rodgers
A documented origin — verses from the label’s own pitchRodgers and Edwards first offered the song to Atlantic, who declined it. Per Rodgers, the verses were composed almost verbatim from how the label’s own executive had described the Sledge sisters when commissioning the work — the pair walked from that meeting straight to the studio, rearranged their meeting notes into lyrics, and wrote the melody underneath. Kathy Sledge, then 19, cut the lead vocal in a single take. No lyrics reproduced.
The recording (current administrator)Not confirmed
Receipts
Every public mention of terms, policy, or past deals we've found
The “We Are Family” Pittsburgh Pirates
Became the 1979 rally song for the Pittsburgh Pirates, who came from behind to win the World Series — still called the “We Are Family” team. Featured in “The Birdcage” (1996) and “The Full Monty” (1997), and the namesake of the We Are Family Foundation.
American Songwriter · read it →
Can You Use It for Free?
How to check PD →Is it public domain?No
Sample History
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Times sampled
A Grammy Hall of Fame anthem
Covers
—
First flip
Who to Contact
WF
Bernard Edwards & Nile Rodgers (Cotillion)
The confirmed songwriters of record
What they'll chargeNobody's shared numbers yet
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Page history · 2 updates
Jul 2026Page created — full research (Research Queue Batch 22)
Jul 2026BPM/Key pending the automated GetSongBPM/Deezer pass