Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, Cramer grew up in the small town of Huttig, Arkansas, teaching himself to play the piano. After finishing high school, he returned to Shreveport, where he worked as a pianist for the Louisiana Hayride radio show.
In 1952, he made his way to Nashville at a time when the use of piano accompanists in country music was growing in popularity. Before long, Cramer would become one of the busiest studio musicians in the industry, playing piano for stars such as Elvis Presley, Brenda Lee, Patsy Cline, The Browns, Jim Reeves, Roy Orbison, Don Gibson and the Everly Brothers, and many others. It is Cramer's piano that is heard, for example, on Presley's first national hit, "Heartbreak Hotel."
However, Cramer remained a virtual unknown to anyone but music industry insiders until he recorded a 45 rpm single in 1960 called "Last Date." An instrumental, the music exhibited a relatively new concept for piano playing known as the "slip note" style. The record went to Number two on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music chart. By the mid-1960s, Cramer had become a respected performer, making numerous record albums and touring with guitar maestro Chet Atkins and saxophonist Boots Randolph.
Floyd Cramer died of lung cancer in 1997 at the age of 64 and was interred in the Spring Hill Cemetery in the Nashville suburb of Madison, Tennessee.
In 2003, he was inducted into both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee offers the "Floyd Cramer Competitive Scholarship."
Amazing Grace
Floyd Cramer Lyrics
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That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now I'm found,
Was blind but now I see.
T'was grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fear relieved
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believed.
We have already come
T'was grace that brought us safe thus far
And grace will lead us home.
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 first begun
The first verse of Amazing Grace speaks to the transformative power of God's grace. The singer proclaims that they were once lost and in a state of spiritual blindness, but they have been "found" and can now "see." This is a metaphor for the idea that through divine grace, the singer has come to understand the truth and has been saved from spiritual darkness. The second verse emphasizes the emotional impact of this experience, as the singer discusses how their heart was both taught to fear by grace, but also relieved of that fear. The final two verses shift to a more communal perspective, as the singer emphasizes that all believers have encountered "dangers, toils and snares" on their spiritual journeys. However, grace has brought them all to their current point and will continue to lead them towards their ultimate home with God. The final line emphasizes the eternal nature of this journey - believers will have an infinite amount of time to continue praising God.
Line by Line Meaning
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound
The grace of God is truly amazing, and its beauty can be felt in the sweetness of its sound.
That saved a wretch like me.
God's grace is powerful enough to save even the most undeserving and lowly of people.
I once was lost but now I'm found,
Before God's grace found me, I was lost and wandering aimlessly, but now I have been found and given direction and purpose.
Was blind but now I see.
Without God's grace, I was blind to the truth and beauty of the world, but now my eyes are open and I see things in a new light.
T'was grace that taught my heart to fear
The fear of God is a healthy and necessary thing, and it was through his grace that my heart was taught to have reverence for him.
And grace my fear relieved
Although the fear of God is important, his grace also provides a sense of comfort and relief from that fear, knowing that he is merciful and loving.
How precious did that grace appear,
Looking back on the moment when God's grace first entered my life, it now appears as one of the most valuable and priceless gifts I have ever received.
The hour I first believed.
That crucial moment when I first believed and accepted God's grace was a turning point in my life that I will always remember.
Through many dangers, toils and snares
Life is full of difficulties and struggles, but even in the midst of those challenges, God's grace has been present and has sustained me.
We have already come
Looking back on my journey so far, it is clear that God's grace has brought me a long way and has allowed me to overcome many obstacles.
T'was grace that brought us safe thus far
The fact that we have made it this far in life is a testament to the power and protection of God's grace.
And grace will lead us home.
Just as God's grace has guided and protected us up to this point, we can trust that it will continue to lead us and bring us safely to our ultimate destination.
When we've been there ten thousand years
Even after spending ten thousand years in heaven, our praise and gratitude toward God will still be overflowing and endless.
Bright shining as the sun;
In our eternal home with God, we will bask in the clear and radiant light of his presence, which will shine like the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Our time in heaven will be limitless, and we will spend eternity singing the praises of our great and gracious God.
Than when we first begun
Even after an eternity in heaven, our joy and gratitude toward God will be just as fresh and new as it was on the day we first received his grace.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: TRADITIONAL, HERMANN BAER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind