When Guy Sebastian wrote a reaction song about the Bali Nine executions, he wasn’t prepared for the ensuing onslaught of online criticism.

Sebastian, 33, had just landed home off a flight from London to see coverage of the executions of Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran on television.

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“I’d just landed and I literally only watched the part where the sister and mum (of Sukumaran) were crying through the streets, just screaming and saying let my son live and it struck a chord with me,” the Australian singer told News.com.au.

Sebastian decided to record a song in support of the family, but said many misinterpreted his intentions.

“My mistake was to call it a tribute,” Sebastian said.

“I wasn’t necessarily paying tribute to them and what they did as human beings. I did it for the family.

“I wanted something to say that I don’t agree with capital punishment. I don’t think marching someone strapped to a cross and shooting them in the chest is the answer.”

The song featured lyrics like, “when you fire your bullet, look me in the eye and take aim”.

Sebastian released the song with an accompanying film clip featuring images of the singers as children interspersed with photos of their grieving families.

The singer, who is competing for Australia at this year’s Eurovision competition, emphasised his hatred of the drug trade.

“I detest drug trafficking,” he said. “I have personally and through my foundation seen the affect of drugs.”

Chan and Sukumaran were executed on April 29 after spending nearly a decade on death row in Bali.

Public funerals for the pair will be held in Sydney this week.