Although much of DiFranco's material is autobiographical, it is often also strongly political. Many of her songs are concerned with contemporary social issues such as racism, sexism, sexual abuse, homophobia, reproductive rights, poverty, and war. DiFranco's guitar playing is often characterized by a signature staccato style, rapid finger picking and many alternate tunings. She delivers many of her lines in a speaking style notable for its rhythmic variation. Her lyrics, which often include alliteration, metaphor, word play and a more-or-less gentle irony, have also received praise for their sophistication. She has released 19 solo albums (not including collaborative albums or live albums), all of which were released on her own independent record label, Righteous Babe Records (which she formed in 1989 at the age of 19).
DiFranco has been a critical success for much of her career, though not a commercial one by major label standards, with a career album average of 72 on Metacritic. Living in Clip, DiFranco's 1998 double live album, is the only one to achieve gold record status to date. DiFranco has been praised by the Buffalo News as the "Buffalo's leading lady of rock music".
Amazing Grace
Ani DiFranco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost
But now I'm found
Was blind but now I see
Twas grace that taught
And grace that fear relieved
How precious did
That grace appear
The hour I first believed
Through many dangers
Toils and snares
I have already come
Twas grace that brought me
Safely thus far
And grace will lead me home
And when this heart
And flesh shall fail
And mortal life shall cease
I shall possess
Within the Vail
A life of joy and peace
"Amazing Grace" is a hymn that has been sung for over two centuries and has many renditions. Ani DiFranco's version is a modern take on the Christian hymn, with her own interpretation of the lyrics. The song opens with a sense of awe towards the idea of grace, which is regarded as a beautiful sound that saves one from their previous state of being, regardless of their past.
The song recognizes the power of grace; it has the ability to evoke fear in one’s heart but can also bring about relief from that fear. The mention of "the hour I first believed" suggests a profound moment of enlightenment for the singer, as the impact of grace is so significant that it completely changes their life.
As the song progresses, the singer recognizes the many challenges they have faced in life, but it is by the grace that they have made it through the tough times. The song closes with a sense of acceptance, a recognition that mortal life will eventually pass, but they will possess a life of joy and peace. This hymn is an uplifting message of hope, redemption, and gratitude towards the grace of God.
Line by Line Meaning
Amazing grace
The extraordinary grace of God
How sweet the sound
The wonderful feeling of the grace of God
That saved a wretch like me
The grace of God has saved me, a sinner
I once was lost
I was previously lost and unable to find my way
But now I'm found
The grace of God has helped me find my way
Was blind but now I see
Before, I was spiritually blind, but now I can see with understanding
Twas grace that taught
It was the grace of God that taught me
My heart to fear
To fear God with respect and admiration
And grace that fear relieved
The grace of God alleviates the fear of God
How precious did
The value of the grace of God is immeasurable
That grace appear
The first appearance of the grace of God is very special
The hour I first believed
When I first believed in God and His grace
Through many dangers
Despite various challenges and difficulties in life
Toils and snares
Hard work and obstacles
I have already come
I have made progress so far
Twas grace that brought me
It was the grace of God that helped me reach here
Safely thus far
God's grace has kept me safe until now
And grace will lead me home
The grace of God will lead me to eternal life
And when this heart
At the end of my life
And flesh shall fail
When my body fails
And mortal life shall cease
And my temporary life on earth ends
I shall possess
I will have
Within the Vail
Inside heaven's gates
A life of joy and peace
Eternal life filled with happiness and serenity
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: . Traditional, Lalo Schifrin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind