Born and raised on the Southside of Chicago, Jonathan grew up in the church and began playing drums at his church as a young child. He moved onto playing the organ and singing in the youth choir, inspired by gospel greats such a Kim Burrell, Smokie Norful and Israel Houghton, and even R&B and rock and roll giants like Stevie Wonder, India Arie, John Mayer, and Paul McCartney. But actually, singing was not his forte at the time. “I didn’t like singing back then,” Jonathan admits. “I wasn’t the type of person who was a front man. I was OK with just playing the organ. I wasn’t ready for that criticism of being out in front, and in the spotlight.”
However it was too hard to suppress that great voice and undeniable talent. His mother encouraged him to sing and use the gift that God had given him. So it was in high school that he began to listen to his mom and to God. “In high school you’re looking for an identity, you’re looking for something to separate you from something else, and singing just became my thing. God really had a plan for me.”
In 2007, Jonathan went on to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Urban and Popular Music at Columbia College in Chicago, which allowed him to perfect his vocal skills, master the piano, and study the performance, production, and business side of the music industry. He even set up a small studio in his dorm room, taking the time between classes to write and record music. But it was his junior year in 2009, when his life would be changed forever. He put together a few songs and created a CD called The Very Unofficial EP of Jonathan McReynolds to give as a Christmas gift for his family. “I got a good response from them and also from friends coming in and out of my dorm room who were just hanging out and listening to my stuff.”
Jonathan also posted the music on Facebook and somehow the CD was leaked to the local radio station. “One morning I woke up to 10 missed calls on my cell phone because one of my songs had just been played on the radio. I called into the radio station and the deejay invited me to his church. I went to the church and sold a thousand CDs in one day and things took off from there. I literally woke up and was an artist,” he says. Jonathan then went to Atlanta to for an event with Bishop Paul Morton and Pastor Jerry Parries, the president of Tehillah Music Group/Light Records, and was soon signed to the label after remarkable feedback.
And now there’s Life Music, Jonathan’s amazing debut album which takes listeners on a touching journey through his life experiences and his deep faith and connection to God. In the first single, “I Love You,” which is getting a lot of radio play and generating a lot of buzz, Jonathan proudly praises his savior and thanks him for being such a resounding force in his life, singing, “Just as sure as I know my name/I know one thing that will never change/I love you.” While in the honest and moving “No Gray,” Jonathan discusses the difficulty of navigating both worlds—the secular and the Godly—crooning, “Lord, I’m split in two/part of me loves the world/and the other loves you/so what do I do/I want to be saved but I want to be cool too/.”
According to Jonathan, Life Music is everything he’s truly about. “The album is about being authentic, genuine, pure and transparent. That’s who I am as a person,” he says. “I’m direct, I’m blunt. I’m not giving into clichés or Christian needs. It’s all about living a life that is worship, as opposed to just relegating it to one day—Sunday worship. Life Music is about encouraging people to live their whole lives, as hard as it is sometimes, working on living their lives for God. That’s what my struggle is about and it’s what my message of encouragement is as well. I was able to write, produce, play 85 percent of the instruments and I saw the songs literally from the ground up. It’s like my heart put out on a CD and I hope people hear and understand that it literally comes from heart.”
There’s no question that Jonathan is more than excited about the album, which debuted at #3 on the charts after its fall 2012 release, and ready for whatever is next. “I’m ready for whatever God wants me to do. As long as people can respect me as a man of God, a good musician, a good writer, I’m happy,” he says.
So what is up next? Jonathan just completed a series of online Unplugged-type videos for tracks off of Life Music which is getting a great response on Youtube, and plans on doing a live album next year for Tehillah Music. He is also back in school after receiving his undergrad degree in 2011, to receive a master’s degree in biblical studies.
The Christian music industry now has a young, impressive, multi-talented artist who is not afraid to open up his heart and soul and honestly sing about the ebb and flow of living in Christ. “I feel like God knows who I am. He knows my strengths and weaknesses and he wanted me to do this. What humbles me is that I know this is what God wants to do in this season of my life,” Jonathan says. “I see how it’s affecting other people. I see how it affects youth. I see how it affects young black men like me. He’s giving me the opportunity to shine, to point people to Him."
Gotta Have You
Jonathan McReynolds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You Oh Lord, I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You Oh Lord, I gotta have You
See you make me as happy as I can be Your love is a guarantee in a world of changes
You and I together stay on my mind You are the truth and the life There's no other way
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You Oh Lord, I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You Oh Lord, I gotta have You
Look at how You turned my world inside out I'm lovin' what You're about You won my faith cause
Also when You picked my life up again and still became my best friend Now everyday.
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You Oh Lord, I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You Oh Lord, I gotta have You
If You take Your love away from me I don't know what I would do Oh no no, no
See there's a giant whole in my heart that can only be filled by You Only You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You Oh Lord, I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You Oh Lord, I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You Oh Lord, I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You Oh Lord, I gotta have You
The theme of Jonathan McReynolds's song Gotta Have You is the deep and abiding need for God in our lives. The lyrics repeatedly express the idea that the singer cannot imagine living without God's love and presence, and that His love is the only thing that can truly fill the void in our hearts. The song opens with a declaration that God is essential, repeated several times: "I gotta have You, I gotta have You... Oh Lord, I gotta have You." The singer acknowledges that God's love makes him happier than anything else in the world, that it is a "guarantee in a world of changes." The song goes on to say that the singer can't stop thinking about God and that he is the truth and the life, expressing the belief that there is no other way to live.
The second verse continues the theme, saying that God has turned the singer's world "inside out" and that he loves Him for it. It also speaks of the moment when God lifted the singer up and became his best friend, a testament to the depth of the relationship between the singer and God. The bridge of the song reinforces this connection, saying that if God's love were taken away, the singer wouldn't know what to do, and that the hole in his heart (like the listener's) can only be filled by God's love.
Line by Line Meaning
I gotta have You
I cannot live without You in my life.
I gotta have You Oh Lord, I gotta have You
I am acknowledging that You are the Lord and I need You to be with me always.
See you make me as happy as I can be
Your presence brings so much joy and happiness to my life that I cannot be any happier than I am with You.
Your love is a guarantee in a world of changes
In this constantly changing world, Your love for me is the only thing I can rely on and is something that will never change.
You and I together stay on my mind
My thoughts are always consumed with thoughts of You and having You by my side.
You are the truth and the life
You are the embodiment of truth, and having You in my life means I have everything I need to live a fulfilling life.
There's no other way
There is no other path or option that could compare to having You in my life.
Look at how You turned my world inside out
You completely transformed my life in the best way possible and everything is different now because of You.
I'm lovin' what You're about
I am completely in love with everything that makes You who You are.
You won my faith cause
I have complete faith in You and everything You represent because of who You are and what You've done for me.
Also when You picked my life up again and still became my best friend
You not only saved me from the depths of despair, but You also became my closest friend and confidant.
Now everyday.
Every single day, I am reminded of the importance of having You in my life and I am forever grateful for You.
If You take Your love away from me I don't know what I would do Oh no no, no
I cannot even imagine a life without You because You are the foundation of my happiness and purpose.
See there's a giant whole in my heart that can only be filled by You Only You
Without You, my life and my heart feels incomplete and I know that You are the only one who can fill the void.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: WARRYN CAMPBELL, JONATHAN MCREYNOLDS, PAUL MORTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Myia Cruickshank
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You Oh Lord, I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You Oh Lord, I gotta have You
See you make me as happy as I can be Your love is a guarantee in a world of changes
You and I together stay on my mind You are the truth and the life There's no other way
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You Oh Lord, I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You Oh Lord, I gotta have You
Look at how You turned my world inside out I'm lovin' what You're about You won my faith cause
Also when You picked my life up again and still became my best friend Now everyday.
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You Oh Lord, I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You Oh Lord, I gotta have You
If You take Your love away from me I don't know what I would do Oh no no, no
See there's a giant whole in my heart that can only be filled by You Only You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You Oh Lord, I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You Oh Lord, I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You Oh Lord, I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You Oh Lord, I gotta have You
Songwriters: Warryn Campbell / Jonathan Mcreynolds / Paul Morton
NaySeemia
This brother in Christ is blessed with lyrics, vocals and has a testimony
Of how it is to be really walking with God.
We all have flaws yet he always love us -( listen to LOVING ME by Jonathan McReynolds )
Through stumbling through our walk with Christ we have to decide to souly be for God and not both world and God. (Listen to -NO GREY by Jonathan McReynolds )
And once we've made that commitment to Christ then their has to be a relationship built so that it is evident through the eyes of lost souls. Which sometimes causes "pressure" to be like someone else in Christ.Because it's so much easier to duplicate rather than become a new creature in Christ. (Listen to- PRESSURE by Jonathan McReynolds )
Even though it gets hard sometimes to live for Christ I gotta have you lord! (Listen to - I GOTTA HAVE YOU by Jonathan McReynolds )
iPhenomenon
Lyrics:
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You Oh Lord, I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You Oh Lord, I gotta have You
See you make me as happy as I can be Your love is a guarantee in a world of changes
You and I together stay on my mind You are the truth and the life There's no other way
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You Oh Lord, I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You Oh Lord, I gotta have You
Look at how You turned my world inside out I'm lovin' what You're about You won my faith cause
Also when You picked my life up again and still became my best friend Now everyday.
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You Oh Lord, I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You Oh Lord, I gotta have You
If You take Your love away from me I don't know what I would do Oh no no, no
See there's a giant whole in my heart that can only be filled by You Only You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You Oh Lord, I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You Oh Lord, I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You Oh Lord, I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You
I gotta have You Oh Lord, I gotta have You
Lady Nightmare
how can you NOT love this song!!!
Krishaun Green
Correct, the first time I heard this song it was just one of those moments. I can't explain it! One thing I do remember is I was riding in the car with my mother and halfway through the song I declared I have to have this song downloaded to my phone immediately! I was surprised she didn't have the same enthusiasm. like your initial statement, I thought" how could you not love this song"mind boggling!
Katrina Portis
I love this song 💖💖 it makes me happy 💖
LC Atherjohn
Exactly!
JBLegend 52
8
Pirate Cat the Gamer
Lady J's World** don't everyone like it????
MahaganeeKotton
You gotta have God or you have nothing! 😍🙌🏾
Latoya Perkins
Amen
Arshell Brooks-Harris
Amen
Gus Rohan
@Vincenzo Genesis definitely, I've been watching on flixzone} for years myself :)