OUR SONGS-
The Stories Behind Them...
I don’t really remember when I fell in love with music. But I do remember that when I went to study Theology, I was passionate about learning to play the guitar.
I will always be grateful to my friends there, who lent me their guitars and did not let my enthusiasm wane in the three months that it took me to be able to play the guitar.
At college I had a number of college mates who composed songs and asked me to compose the music for these songs.
This was something I greatly enjoyed and it eventually led me to compose my first song “Kahan Mein Jaoo”.
The second song I composed was “Aye Manav”. I first sang it at a music night at the college where I studied theology but my wife's roommate thought its music resembled someone making a speech to background music.
So finally, when I decided to record this song as part of my first album “MERE YESHU RAJA”, the song underwent major changes in its melody.
My first album consists of nine songs and of these only two songs are self- composed.
Two of these songs are translations from Nepali. Unfortunately, I have been unable to identify the composer of the original song in Nepali.
Jinka Bharosa, Yeshu Papiyon Ka Dost, Tere Liye and Mere Zindagi Ka Taj were songs composed by my friends and to which I had added the melody at their request.
The other two songs are adaptations and I have added verses to one of them.
It was after I recorded my first album that I began to compose songs more frequently. I have therefore listed some of those songs with a brief description of their history and the circumstances that led me to write them.
PRABHU KA KAR DHANYAVAD-This is the first song recorded under my second album which shares the same title. This is a translation of the Malayalam song “Vazthuga Ne Maname” by Mahakavi K V Simon.
The Malayalam version had become a staple song at Malayali weddings and so I had never really thought of its deep and profound meaning until it was sung at a worship service that I attended.
I saw the move of the Holy Spirit that day and I left with the chorus ringing in my ears. I sat down to translate this song into Hindi the same day. I believe that it was God who led me to do this, as since the release of my second album this is one song that has touched the lives of many people.
However, I find it quite amusing now that the Hindi version has also become a song that is frequently sung at a number of North Indian weddings.
There are two other songs translated from Malayalam in this album- Aasu Kab Metenge, the original song in Malayalam was composed by Pr Sam Mukhatala and Yeshu Acha He. I have unfortunately not been able to identify the songwriter for this song.
ARADHNA HO ATHMA SE-This was the first song composed by my wife Presciella and I, together and the last stanza was her contribution to this song.
YESHU KRUS PE TU CHADGAYA-This song was composed during a visit to my friend Sam Nair and was birthed during a time of prayer and worship.
ANANDHITH RAHO-This song was composed whilst my wife and I were in Neemuch.
We strongly felt that God had called us to the city of Indore, seven hours away by train, but had agreed to look after the church founded and pastored by my father, as they were away for a year in connection with my mother’s job.
We struggled with self doubt, difficulty in our relationship with others and my wife’s sudden illness. I was inspired to compose this song as I was meditating on Philippians chapter 4 and God dealt with me and lifted my burden which had been like a shadow over our lives.
ABTHAK SAMBALA-This is the first song as part of my third album “SPARSH”. This song was composed after we had moved to Indore as we believed God had called us to this city.
Two months later I was stricken with typhoid and was further burdened by the knowledge that my parents were extremely unhappy with our decision to move to Indore.
One day as I slept in sleep induced by high fever and body draining antibiotics, I dreamt that I was singing this song before a huge crowd and leading them into worship. I woke up rejuvenated with the words to the chorus of this song on my lips.
This was a comforting scene for my wife who had just returned after a harrowing day in a new city trying to complete the formalities for her admission at college. As I could not remember the stanzas of this song I asked God to bring them back to my memory which He did in the next few days.
The stanzas are in effect a testimony to the reassurance and comfort that God provided us during those days.
MAIN DHODA CHALA AAU-God helped me to compose this song on the 8th of February 2003 when we were in Indore.
This was written as God dealt with the subtle pride that had begun to develop in me after I had received numerous invitations to lead worship at conventions, youth camps and conferences through out the country and abroad. God broke me and restored me in His faithfulness and this song is a testimony to this.
HEY JAWAN TU-This song is based on Ecclesiastes Ch 11 verse 9.
MUJME MUJME-This is another song composed by my wife and my self. This is based on Psalms Ch 51 Verse 10.
MERA YESHU KITNA PYARA-This song was written as a song of gratitude and thanksgiving for what God had done in our lives as we were serving Him in Indore.
We had experienced miracles in our finances, healing for my wife and myself as I had been bed ridden for six months with a slipped disc. We had seen God’s faithfulness in our lives as we faced our home being burgled and threats to burn down our place of worship and the demands of studies on my wife.
This song is a testimony to the immense peace and joy God gave us while we served him in Indore. There was so much that God taught us and we still look back to those three years as when God held our hand and helped us face each day.
I believe I could write a book detailing all that God taught us and did for us while we were in Indore.
KARTE DUA…YE MERA DESH- I look at this song as being more of a prayer than a song. This was composed as a song that expressed my heart’s yearning and the yearning of many who spent time praying for the salvation of India in the intercession and all night prayers sessions of the Students group in Indore, that we were a part of.
Vocals; Christy John, Presciella John
Music Production & Guitars: Rex Vijayan
Flute & Sax: Rison M.R
Mixing and Mastering: Dan Jose
Released: 2009
This was the first album that was produced following our move to the UK. We also had our six month old baby accompany us to the studios and she was as good as gold.The recording of this album was made possible due to the kind and generous contributions of a few friends.
Thank you Gladson, Seamus, Viji and Nelson.
All the songs in this album such as Mere Dost and Aye Mere Saathi are self compositions. Only one song in this album was a translation from Telugu.
BHOR KO JAB ME JAAGU- This is a self-composition and my wife Presciella lent her voice to this recording.
STUTI TUMHARE MUH SE- This is a second self-composition to which my wife Presciella lent her voice.
AATMA PAVITRA AATMA- This is a song calling out for God to pour out His Spirit and fill us with His boldness as we preach His word in an increasingly hostile world.
ADHBUT HE KRUS KA PREM- This song almost didn't make it. This is my favourite song from this album and I was drawn to write this song as I contemplated Christ's love for me at the cross but this was the last song to be added to this album.It was also the first song to be selected for a music video.
TERE HE ANUGRAHA SE-This song is a song of thanksgiving, He had led us through a move across continents, the grief of losing our first child and all the struggles and triumphs that life inadvertantly throws at us.
As I sat down to write this song I was overwhelmed about the goodness and faithfulness of God.