Hold On To Our Dream (CHIJ 170 Finale 2024-05-20)

Details

Description

Performed by Alemay Fernandez & the CHIJ Schools Combined Choir at the National Stadium
Music & Lyrics: © 2002 Julie Sim & Trevor Nerva. All rights reserved.
Original Arrangement (2002): Terence Teo
Updated Arrangement (2024): Geraint Wong & Mandric Tan
Produced by Geraint Wong
Video: Thanks to Lim CM

SONGWRITER’S SHARING
In 2001, my old friend and CHIJ (Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus) classmate, Donne Marie Aeria, then Chairperson of the Infant Jesus (IJ) Schools Board of Management, asked me if I could write a song which could be sung by all the eleven CHIJ schools at combined events, so that all IJ girls, no matter which IJ school they were from, would feel a sense of oneness. Up till then, every IJ school had their own school song and more often than not, they tended to focus on their own identity and perhaps compare themselves to other IJ schools in a rather competitive way. She wanted this to change and she felt a CD collection of IJ songs given to each girl would help to build a new spirit of unity.

The working committee for the album had a request, that the main song would contain the words “IJ Spirit”. These were the keywords in writing our IJ anthem “Hold On To Our Dream”.

Verse 1 – portrays the IJ Spirit as a flame burning brightly, filling the world with Christian love and light, as befits a Catholic mission school.

Verse 2 – celebrates IJ friends, who have journeyed with us through thick and thin, and made our school days so memorable. Isn’t it amazing how we can still re-connect after many years, even though we are all busy with our own lives?

Chorus – our IJ Dream is that every IJ girl can be a peace-builder, to make peace happen not just in school, but also after leaving school, in the family, the workplace, the neighbourhood, the community, the world! If we can all hold on to this dream, then there is hope for future generations. This dream is not just wishful thinking, but requires our hearts to seek out truth and our hands to be ready to serve the poor and needy, just as our Founder, Blessed Nicolas Barré did.

Verse 3 – reminds us that we have to constantly reflect on our own thoughts and actions, to make sure that the flame has not ‘burnt out’, and that we may need to begin again when we are feeling low.

Verse 4 – recalls the singing sessions we had in the school hall, learning new hymns and hearing our voices ringing out, those were happy times, so this memory became Verse 4 and is also part of the chorus.

PRAISE AND GLORY TO GOD FOR THE INSPIRATION!
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, CHIJ SINGAPORE!

LINKS
Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/HOTODspotify
Apple: https://tinyurl.com/HOTODapple

LYRICS
Verse 1
IJ Spirit burning bright,
Fill this world with love and light,
Light that shines for all to see,
Love that sets our spirits free.

Verse 2
IJ friendships through the years,
Born of simple joys and tears,
Something tells us deep inside,
IJ friends are friends for life.

Chorus
Hold on to our dream of peace, don’t stop believing,
Our hearts and hands ever seeking, ever serving.
Hold on to the sound of our friends all joyously singing,
Our voices raised to the Lord our God above,
Hold on to our dream!

Verse 3
IJ Spirit burning bright,
Fill our hearts with love and light,
Light to see ourselves anew,
Love begins with me and you.

Verse 4
IJ voices ringing true,
Reaching out and breaking through,
Every heart will hear our call,
Share our dream of peace for all.

Repeat Chorus

Final Chorus
Hold on to our dream of peace, don’t stop believing,
Our hearts and hands ever seeking, ever serving.
Hold on to the sound of our friends all joyously singing,
Our voices raised to the Lord our God above,
Hold on to our dream, hold on to our dream,
Hold fast to the IJ Dream.
Hold on to our dream!