in-feast-or-fallow
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Faith’s Review & Expectation
This is the original text to the song we all know as “Amazing Grace.” John Newton wrote this poem for a New Years day service based on Chronicles 17:16-17. It is believed that there was no tune at first, but that it was read or spoken instead by the first congregants. It has had countless folk melodies over the years, and has been globally circulated. The common last verse about “When we’ve been there ten thousand years…” was actually added much later, in the 19th Century.
Covering such a beloved hymn is a risky thing to do. But I wanted to bring a fresh emotion to it, to make the listener feel as though they had never really heard these words before. Listen close and you can hear Derek playing our 2 year old son’s ukulele when the band comes in. He had to tune it between each of those sweet, almost-in-tune chords.
Lyrics
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.
’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,
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.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who called me here below,
Will be forever mine
Will be forever mine…
Will be forever mine.
words by JOHN NEWTON music TRADITIONAL/SANDRA MCCRACKEN © 2010 Drink Your Tea Music (ASCAP). Admin. by SIMPLEVILLE, inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
