Hilary Mwelwa was born in Lusaka, Zambia and moved to London with her famil… Read Full Bio ↴Hilary Mwelwa was born in Lusaka, Zambia and moved to London with her family at age five. As a child, she adopted her father's love of traditional Zambian music along with such American R and B/soul icons as Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder. As a graduate of London's Westminster University, Hilary had early ambitions to go into the science field and earned a degree in biological sciences. She shares, While I was in school studying sciences, I started to explore my musical interests and I decided that I wanted to pursue music more seriously. I took a year off from school and during this time I recorded my first demo. I have never had formal music training but I was brought up on a diet of soul, R and B, Gospel and pop music from an early age. Luckily for us Hilary Mwelwa's path has led her to follow her heart and her music. She concludes, I could have pursued a nice comfortable career path but music is where my heart is. I do believe that everything you do in life leads you to your ultimate destiny. My personal motto is live life to the fullest and to spend your time doing what you love. You have to enjoy each day as if it were your last.

Im a fan of good music. The kind that hits you in the heart, mind and soul! says Hilary Mwelwa, the next British R and B phenomenon destined to win over American R and B and soul devotees. USA Today declares, Mwelwa's vocals are always enticing while Vibe Magazine heralds Mwelwa's rich, velvety voice warms the inside like a spot of tea. The 20-something year-old chanteuse along with her musical partner Victor Redwood-Sawyerr (co-founder of the award-winning hip hop group Blak Twang), make up Hil St. Soul, one of the hottest groups to emerge from London's underground music scene in recent years. Hil St. Soul has toured with such individual artists as Macy Gray, Angie Stone and D'Angelo.

Amazing
Hil St. Soul Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Amazing grace 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 my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed

Amazing grace 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
Through many dangers, toils, and snares
I have already come
T´was grace that brought me safe thus far
And grace will lead me home
Amazing grace 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

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Hil St. Soul's song "Amazing" are a reinterpretation of the classic hymn "Amazing Grace." The song speaks to the transformative power of grace and redemption. The opening lines, "Amazing grace how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me," acknowledge a deep sense of gratitude for the mercy that has been bestowed upon the singer. The use of the word "wretch" emphasizes a sense of unworthiness or brokenness that is overcome through grace.

The subsequent lines, "I once was lost, but now I'm found, was blind but now I see," suggest a personal journey of enlightenment and self-discovery. The individual acknowledges that they were once lost and without direction, but grace has provided them with a new perspective, enabling them to see the world with newfound clarity. This transformation is both spiritual and emotional, as the lyricist realizes the power of grace to heal and restore.

The song further explores the theme of grace as a guiding force through life's challenges. The line, "Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come," suggests that the singer has faced numerous obstacles along their journey and has been able to overcome them through the grace of a higher power. This acknowledgement of past struggles is juxtaposed with the reassurance that grace will continue to lead the way, ultimately guiding the individual back home.

Overall, "Amazing" is a powerful and heartfelt tribute to the transformative nature of grace. It highlights the journey from darkness to light, from being lost to being found, and serves as a reminder of the incredible power of redemption and spiritual awakening.

Line by Line Meaning

Amazing grace how sweet the sound
The extraordinary kindness is so pleasing to the ear

That saved a wretch like me
It rescued a miserable person like myself

I once was lost, but now I'm found
I was previously without direction, but now I have been discovered

Was blind but now I see
I was ignorant, but now I have understanding

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
It was kindness that made my heart apprehensive

And grace my fears relieved
And kindness alleviated my fears

How precious did that grace appear
How valuable that kindness seemed

The hour I first believed
At the moment I first had faith

Through many dangers, toils, and snares
Despite facing numerous risks, hardships, and traps

I have already come
I have already made progress

T´was grace that brought me safe thus far
It was kindness that brought me safely until now