“Amazing Grace” Lyrics

“Amazing Grace” Lyrics

 

“Amazing Grace” is a Christian hymn, written by John Newton, an English poet and Anglican Clergyman in 1772. 

 John Newton was born in Wapping, a district in East London in 1725. His father was shipping merchant. When Newton was six years old his mother was died of tuberculosis. At the age of 11, Newton joined his father and started to work with him on a ship as an apprentice. 

When Newton was young, he was pressed into the Royal Navy. Then he was fallen in love with Marry Polly and left the service and started his career as a Slave trader. In 1750, he married Polly.  He continued this job till 1754 or 1755 and then ended his seafaring, then he was 30 years old. Newton started to learn Latin, Greek and theology and immersed himself in the church community and then his friends advised him to be a priest in the Church of England. 

William Legge 2nd Earl of Dartmouth offered him the curacy of Olney, Buckinghamshire in 1764. In Olney, Newton met William Cowper, a writer. In 1772, the lyrics of Amazing Grace were written by John Newton and 1 June, 1773, the “Amazing Grace” was used in a prayer meeting for the first time. 

A collection of poems by Newton and Cowper wrote for use in the services at Olney and was published anonymously in 1779 under the title “Olney Hymns”. In Olney hymns, 280 of 348 texts were contributed by John Newton. 

“Amazing Grace” is associated with over 20 tunes. In 1835, American composer William Walker set it to the tune known as "New Britain", which is the most sung version today. 

“Amazing Grace” 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 forbears to shine; 

But God, who called me  

Here below, 

Will be forever mine. 

  

When we’ve been there  

Ten thousand years, 

Bright shining as the sun, 

We’ve no less days  

To sing God’s praise then  

When we’d first begun.