Finding his voice in a school choir, Crawford began his professional career still a teenager. Having some luck on the London stage in the early 60s, he then found his way onto the BBC and starred in various programmes such as 'Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em'. He also had film roles in 'The War Lover', 'A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum'. and 'How I Won the War' (which brought him into the same work as John Lennon).
Andrew Lloyd Webber's casting of him opposite Sarah Brightman and Steve Barton as the Phantom in 1986 shot his career into high gear. Winning a Tony Award for his role, Crawford also had the aforementioned tune, "The Music Of The Night", reach the British Top Ten. He has released several studio albums such as 'A Touch of Music in the Night' and 'On Eagle's Wings' among others.
Amazing Grace
Michael Crawford Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis grace hath 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.
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
and mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
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've first begun.
Michael Crawford’s rendition of the classic hymn, “Amazing Grace,” is a beautiful and emotional expression of faith that has resonated with people of all backgrounds for centuries. The lyrics of this song speak to the transformative power of grace and how it can change the course of a person’s life. The first verse alone is enough to stir up deep feelings in the hearts of many listeners as it talks about how sweet the sound of grace is and how it saved a wretch like the singer. The imagery of someone who was lost but now found and once blind but now seeing is particularly poignant as it speaks to the restorative nature of grace.
The second verse of the song speaks to how grace can instill both fear and relief in a person’s heart. It also underscores the importance of the moment of first believing in grace, which can be a life-changing experience for many. The third verse talks about the trials and tribulations the singer has had to endure, but how grace has brought them through those experiences and will continue to lead them home. The fourth verse speaks to the promises that have been made to the singer and how those promises ensure their hope and security. The fifth verse is a beautiful expression of how the singer feels about what awaits them beyond this world, as they anticipate possessing a life of joy and peace.
Overall, Crawford’s rendition of “Amazing Grace” is a powerful reminder of the transformative nature of grace and how it has the power to change and heal lives. The song’s themes of hope, faith, and redemption can speak to anyone who has ever felt lost, alone, or in need of a fresh start in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
The grace that saved me is truly amazing and sweet-sounding.
That saved a wretch like me.
The grace saved someone like me, who was miserable and unworthy.
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
I used to be lost and blind, but due to grace, I am now found and can see things clearly.
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved.
It was grace that made me realize how powerful and scary God is, and by the same grace, my fears were relieved.
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.
I realized the immense value of grace the moment I believed in it for the first time.
Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far
And grace will lead me home.
I have faced numerous challenges and obstacles on my journey, but grace has kept me safe and will guide 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.
God has made good promises to me, and I have faith in his word to keep me safe and to provide for me for as long as I live.
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
and mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
Even if my body and heart stop working, I will still have a life full of happiness and calm behind the veil of death.
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've first begun.
Even after spending ten thousand years in heaven, we will have the same amount of time to sing praises to God as we did when we first started.
Lyrics © Public Domain
Written by: John Newton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind