"Joe Nina was born Henry Makhosini Xaba in Kwa-Thema in the East Rand towns… Read Full Bio ↴"Joe Nina was born Henry Makhosini Xaba in Kwa-Thema in the East Rand township. He grew up in a musical household and he was raised to become a musician. His father, Solomon was a guitar and saxophonist player back then during the Sophiatown days. His mother, Lettie did backing vocals for his father’s band, the Shamings. Little Joe Nina, aged three, happily accompanied Mom and Dad to gigs (where they were going to perform) sometimes to venues as far as Swaziland.

Aged twelve, Joe Nina would play drums and sing, thanks to his father’s expert coaching. By the age of fourteen Joe Nina knew the basic technique of the piano. He was not lazy when it came to school work. His favourite subjects were mathematics and physical science as his goal was to study medicine at university."

My Prayer
Joe Nina Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Father
Here I am
Please hear my prayers

Father here I am
Please attend to my prayer
My heart is broken and I'm in pain
Please wash away my tears

Father I'm on my knees
Crying to You for You're my shelter
Forgive me for my sins
And take me back under Your wings

Oh Father my hope is in You
Deliver me from all my pain

Oh Baba gez'izono zami
Kuze kube naphakade

Overall Meaning

The song "My Prayer" by Joe Nina is a heartfelt plea to God for comfort and forgiveness. The opening line, "Father, here I am, please hear my prayers," sets the tone for the entire song. The singer is addressing God directly, expressing his brokenness and pain, and asking for help to wash away his tears. The repetition of the word "Father" reinforces this sense of a personal relationship with the divine.

The second verse finds the singer on his knees, crying out to God as his shelter. He acknowledges his sins and asks for forgiveness, seeking to be taken back under God's wings. The final lines of the song express hope in God's ability to deliver the singer from his pain and to sustain him forever. The use of the Zulu phrase "Kuze kube naphakade" in the last line means "may it be forever," highlighting the singer's desire for a sustained and lasting relationship with God.

Line by Line Meaning

Father
Addressing God as a source of emotional support and guidance.

Here I am
Presenting oneself before God, indicating a desire to be heard and seen.

Please hear my prayers
Requesting God's attention and intervention in the petitioner's life.

My heart is broken and I'm in pain
Describing the petitioner's state of emotional distress and suffering.

Please wash away my tears
Requesting relief and healing from emotional pain.

Father I'm on my knees
Expressing humility and submission before God.

Crying to You for You're my shelter
Requesting God's protection and comfort during hard times.

Forgive me for my sins
Asking for God's mercy and forgiveness for past wrongs.

And take me back under Your wings
Asking to be guided and protected by God in the future.

Oh Father my hope is in You
Expressing reliance and faith in God's ability to provide hope and support.

Deliver me from all my pain
Asking for God's help in overcoming emotional and physical pain.