Amazing Grace

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For other uses, see Amazing Grace (disambiguation).

"Amazing Grace" is one of the most well-known Christian hymns. The words were written by John Newton; they form a part of the Olney Hymns that he worked on, with William Cowper and other hymnodists.

1 History
2 Bagpipes
3 Lyrics
4 Recordings
5 External links

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History

John Newton (1725–1807) was the captain of a slave ship. On 10 May 1748 returning home during a storm he experienced a "great deliverance". In his journal he wrote that the ship was in grave danger of sinking. He exclaimed "Lord have mercy upon us". He came to the light gradually and even continued to trade slaves after his conversion.

Newton wrote the song "How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds" while waiting in an African harbor for a shipment of slaves. Later he renounced his profession, became a minister, and joined William Wilberforce in the fight against slavery.

Newton may have borrowed an old tune sung by the slaves themselves.

The now familiar and traditional melody of the hymn was not composed by Newton, and the words were sung to a number of tunes before the now inseparable melody was chanced upon.

There are two different tunes to the words. "New Britain" first appears in a shape note hymnal from 1831 called Virginia Harmony. Any original words sung to the tune are now lost. The melody is believed to be Scottish or Irish in origin; it is pentatonic and suggests a bagpipe tune; the hymn is frequently performed on bagpipes and has become associated with that instrument. The other tune is the so-called "Old Regular Baptist" tune. It was sung by the Congregation of the Little Zion Church, Jeff, Kentucky on the album "The Ritchie Family of Kentucky" on Folkways (1958).

Newton's lyrics have become a favourite for Christians of all denominations, largely because the hymn vividly and briefly sums up the Christian doctrine of Divine grace. The lyrics are loosely based around the text of Ephesians 2:4-8.

It has also become known as a favorite with supporters of freedom and human rights, both Christian and non-Christian, as it is believed by many to be a song against slavery, as Newton was once a slave trader. He continued to be a slave trader for several years after his experience, but later he became a clergyman. The song has been sung by many notable musical performers.

The hymn was quite popular among both sides in the American Civil War. While on the trail of tears, the Cherokee were not always able to give their dead a full burial. Instead, the singing of Amazing Grace had to suffice. Since then, Amazing Grace is often considered the Cherokee National Anthem. For this reason, many contemporary Native American musicians have recorded this song.

The name "Amazing Grace" was used as the title of a musical written by Mal Pope about the 1904 Welsh Revival and the life of Evan Roberts.

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Bagpipes

The association with bagpipes is a relatively modern phenomenon; for over a century the tune was nearly forgotten in the British Isles until the folk revival of the 1960s began carrying traditional musicians both ways between the British Isles and the United States (where Amazing Grace had remained a very popular hymn). It was little known outside of church congregations or folk festivals until Arthur Penn's film "Alice's Restaurant" (1969). Lee Hays of the Weavers leads the worshipers in "Amazing Grace". The song sounds particulay moving when played on the pipes and is commonly heard at funerals and memorial services

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Lyrics

Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)

That saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found,

Was blind, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,

And grace my fears relieved;

How precious did that grace appear,

The hour I first believed!

Through many dangers, toils and snares,

I have already come;

'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,

And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me,

His word my hope secures;

He will my shield and portion be,

As long as life endures.

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,

And mortal life shall cease;

I shall possess, within the veil,

A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,

The sun forbear to shine;

But God, who call'd me here below,

Will be forever mine.

Some versions of the hymn include an additional verse:

When we've been there ten thousand years,

Bright shining as the sun,

We've no less days to sing God's praise

Than when we'd first begun.

This verse is not by Newton. It was originally from a hymn called Jerusalem, My Happy Home. It was added to a version of "Amazing Grace" by Harriet Beecher Stowe, as it appears in her novel Uncle Tom's Cabin. Uncle Tom has pieced the lyrics of several hymns together; those who learned the lyrics from the novel have assumed that it belongs.

Some versions include still another verse:

Shall I be wafted through the skies,

on flowery beds of ease,

where others strive to win the prize,

and sail through bloody seas.

This verse has been recorded by Pete Seeger and Arlo Guthrie. The verse really belongs with the hymn, "Am I a Soldier of the Cross?" by Isaac Watts.

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Recordings

The hymn has been recorded by countless artists over the last century. Two versions have made the UK Singles Chart; between 1970 and 1972, a version by Judy Collins spent 67 weeks in the charts, a record for a female artist, and peaked at number 5. In 1972, an instrumental version by the Pipes and Drums and Military Band of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards spent five weeks at number one, also reaching the top spot in Australia. Likewise another artist, Hayley Westenra, released this song on her album Pure and this album did incredibly well, selling 19,068 copies in its first week of sales alone.

In addition to recording the hymn, Joan Baez also opened the US portion of Live Aid, the legendary 1985 concert for African famine relief, with a performance of "Amazing Grace".

Folk singer Arlo Guthrie closes many of his concerts with a version of "Amazing Grace" that includes a spoken retelling of its origin.

The composer Frank Ticheli has written a version of Amazing Grace that is frequently performed by various wind ensembles throughout the United States.

Celtic-influenced punk band the Dropkick Murphys have made several recordings of Amazing Grace, all of which feature the use of bagpipes.

Christian metal band Stryper recorded a heavy metal version of Amazing Grace, titled 10,000 years, which came out in their album 2005 album Reborn

Chris Squire of Yes also has recorded a bass solo version of Amazing Grace on the Rhino's rerelease of 'Going For The One' album.

The Groundhogs did a version of Amazing Grace for their Who Will Save The World? album.

Another version was used as the ending song for the Japanese drama series Shiroi Kyoto(2003-2004 version).

Thebandwithnoname, a Christian rap/hip-hop band have also released their version of the song, and it is always considered their most famous song, always performed at thier gigs.

There is also another bass solo version of this played by Victor Wooten. The main theme of the song is mainly played with harmonics. He often plays it at concerts. Listen here on Google Video.

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