John Newton and the lyrics to Amazing Grace
John Newton, the author of the lyrics to Amazing Grace, was born in 1725 in Wapping, London, United Kingdom. Despite the powerful message of "Amazing Grace," Newton's religious beliefs initially lacked conviction; his youth was marked by religious confusion and a lack of moral self-control and discipline.
After a brief time in the Royal Navy, Newton began his career in slave trading. The turning point in Newton's spiritual life was a violent storm that occurred one night while at sea. Moments after he left the deck, the crewman who had taken his place was swept overboard. Although he manned the vessel for the remainder of the tempest, he later commented that, throughout the tumult, he realized his helplessness and concluded that only the grace of God could save him. Prodded by what he had read in Thomas à Kempis' Imitation of Christ, Newton took the first step toward accepting faith.
These incidents and his 1750 marriage to Mary Catlett changed Newton significantly. On his slave voyages, he encouraged the sailors under his charge to pray. He also began to ensure that every member of his crew treated their human cargo with gentleness and concern. Nevertheless, it would be another 40 years until Newton openly challenged the trafficking of slaves.
Some three years after his marriage, Newton suffered a stroke that prevented him from returning to sea; in time, he interpreted this as another step in his spiritual voyage. He assumed a post in the Customs Office in the port of Liverpool and began to explore Christianity more fully. As Newton attempted to experience all the various expressions of Christianity, it became clear that he was being called to the ministry. Since Newton lacked a university degree, he could not be ordained through normal channels. However, the landlord of the parish at Olney was so impressed with the letters Newton had written about his conversion that he offered the church to Newton; he was ordained in June 1764.
In Olney, the new curate met the poet William Cowper, also a newly-converted Christian. Their friendship led to a spiritual collaboration that completed the inspiration for "Amazing Grace," the poem Newton most likely wrote in Kineton, Warwickshire around Christmas 1772. The lyrics are based on his reflections on an Old Testament text he was preparing to preach on, adding his perspective about his own conversion while on his slave ship, the Greyhound, in 1748.
Newton's lyrics have become a favourite for Christians, largely because the hymn vividly and briefly sums up the doctrine of divine grace. The lyrics are based on 1 Chronicles 17:16-17, a prayer of King David in which he marvels at God's choosing him and his house. Newton apparently wrote this for use in a sermon he preached on this passage on New Year's Day 1773, and for which he left his sermon notes, which correspond to the flow of the lyrics. (He entitled the piece "Faith's review and expectation.")
The song has also become known as a favorite with supporters of freedom and human rights, both Christian and non-Christian, in part because many assume it to be Newton's testimony about his slave trading past.
The hymn was quite popular on both sides in the American Civil War.
Extra verses
In her novel Uncle Tom's Cabin, Harriet Beecher Stowe quoted three stanzas as seemingly from one hymn, two of them corrupt versions of Amazing Grace stanzas, and one reading:
When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining like the sun,
We've no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we first begun.
Despite its relatively poor mesh with the rest of the hymn (the change from "I" to "we," change of subject, no reference for "there"), a form of this stanza became common as part of Amazing Grace in hymnals in the early twentieth century, due in large part to the influential hymnodist and publisher Edwin Othello Excell. While the stanza is often credited to John P. Rees (1828-1900), it antedates his birth. It was in print by 1790, added to an old and widely-varied hymn most usually beginning "Jerusalem, my happy home", and was still appearing as part of this hymn in books published around the time of Stowe's book,
Music
As with other hymns of this period, the words were sung to a number of tunes before and after they first became linked to the now familiar variant of the tune "New Britain" of which the composer is unknown and which is in William Walker's shape-note tunebook Southern Harmony, 1835.
"New Britain" first appears in a shape note hymnal from 1829 called Columbian Harmony. 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. This tune seems to have been firmly established as the 'standard' for this hymn after an arrangement of it appeared in a series of popular hymnbooks in the early twentieth century.
Amazing Grace
Judy Collins 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 my Fears relieved
How precious did
That grace appear
The hour I first believed
Through many dangers
Toils and snares
We have already come
'Twas grace hath 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'll have no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we first begun
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
The song Amazing Grace by Judy Collins is a beautiful melody that speaks about the grace that the singer has experienced. The opening lines are quite well-known and have been sung by a number of artists over the years. The singer speaks about how sweet the sound of amazing grace is and how it has saved someone like her who was a wretch. The term "wretch" suggests that the person was in a very low place and felt helpless, but the amazing grace has given her a new lease of life. The next line suggests that the singer was lost at some point in her life, but now she has been found. She may have felt lost and without direction, but this grace has helped her find her way.
The song continues to speak about grace with lines such as 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved' suggesting that grace is a force that can both inspire and comfort. The lyrics 'Through many dangers, toils, and snares, we have already come' suggest that the person has already encountered many obstacles in their life but the grace has helped them to come this far. The final lines are a resounding affirmation that grace will lead them home, and that they will continue to sing God's praise for eternity.
Line by Line Meaning
Amazing grace
The awe-inspiring kindness and mercy of God
How sweet the sound
The beauty and comfort of redemption
That saved a wretch like me
The salvation and forgiveness offered to even the most sinful and troubled people
I once was lost
Before coming to God, I was misguided and struggled in life
But now I'm found
I have discovered and embraced the truth of God's love and righteousness
Was blind, but now I see
I was ignorant and confused before, but now I am enlightened and perceive God's truth
'Twas grace that taught
It was God's mercy and patience that helped me learn
My heart to fear
To respect and revere God's power and authority
And grace my Fears relieved
The same grace that helped me fear God also comforted and reassured me
How precious did
How valuable and meaningful
That grace appear
The grace of God revealed itself in a profound way
The hour I first believed
The exact moment I fully trusted in God's love and salvation
Through many dangers
Despite numerous difficulties and hardships
Toils and snares
Struggles and temptations
We have already come
We have made progress and overcome many obstacles
'Twas grace hath brought
God's grace has been the reason for our safety and success thus far
Us safe thus far
We have been protected and guided by God's grace until now
And grace will lead us home
God's grace will continue to guide us until we reach our final destination in heaven
When we've been there
After a long time has passed
Ten thousand years
An extremely long time
Bright shining as the sun
Radiant and glorious
We'll have no less days to sing God's praise
We will never run out of reasons to praise God
Than when we first begun
Our joy and appreciation for God's love and grace will never diminish or fade away
Lyrics © Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN), BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Integrity Music, Songtrust Ave, Reservoir Media Management, Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Judy Collins, John Newton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Aashvi
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
Was 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
We have already come
T'was Grace that brought us safe thus far
And Grace will lead us home
And Grace will lead us home
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
Was blind, but now I see
Caterina Nikols
"Amazing Grace" (lyrics)
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
Through many dangers, toils and snares
We have already come
Twas grace hath 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
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
Jesus Christ Savior
After reading some comments here i feel the impulse by the Holy Spirit to correct some, if not many:
the focus of praise in any song or action is to be Jesus Christ and His amazing grace in His salvation and manner of salvation toward all who come to Him and surrender to Him!!!
Judy collins and no one else, that lived, lives or will live in this entire world should make us cry or touch us more than YESHUA OUR CHRIST, that is called idolatry, be it of the performer, the song, or the sound of the music, these can seem genuine praise of God, but explore what it is that makes one cry when they hear a song or a voice?! is it the story, or the mood a song casts upon you?! we must question where our feelings and emotions come from, after all the Bible states clearly not to trust our emotions and also that Satan was the chief musician and that he disguises himself as an angel of light. If satan is in the church today, then why not in Christian music?! where better to strike the young inexperienced Christians?!
i am not saying this or any other song is cursed or of the devil or a deception or anything like that, but we must be careful as to what, or rather who it is we are worshiping, is it the song, musician or music, or is it Jesus?!
PRAISE BE TO HIM FOR EVER MORE, NEVER ENDING; HALLELUYAH!!!
God bless those who truly seek and worship Him!
hong huang
I'm not a religious believer, but this song gives me peace.
W. D. Arruffamontone
same
Don Mac
@W. D. Arruffamontone Jesus said. Matthew 11:28
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” 🏴
juragan sawit
relegion is do or not to do, but in Jesus Christ there is reality peace
Special Officer Doofus
Same
Tyler Murnaghan
I used to be like you. It grows. They call it faith because even though you may not always believe, there is still the trusting faith that something better is to come. Shine again Jesus.
Louie Sauchelli
Fantastic voice! Brings tears to my eyes! Thank you Jesus for your Amazing Grace!! It’s like us as the church singing together! I love it! Waiting for the appointed time! So come Lord Jesus🙏
Anamaira Zapata
This woman has an amazing voice. It pierces your soul
سيف خالد خالد
فعلا وانا مسلم لكن لا أمل منها اسمعها بالليل والنهار
Archie Jordan
Played this version over the church's PA system at my wife's funeral in 1989. She was young at 46 and was well known in our city and county. There was not a dry eye in the church. Our children, who were 18, 12, and 10 at the time cried, too, but today they love this version of the song. So did my wife...I played it for her for the 16 days she was home with us under Hospice care. She was in a coma but I know she heard it....her lips tried to form a smile almost every time I played it for her.