Who wote Amazing Grace?

Answer 1

John Newton wrote most of the verses; the first usually sung as the last verse is thought to be by John P. Rees (though written for another hymn).

But the popular version of HOW the lyrics came to be written is mistaken on many points -- including the wikipedia entry already posted here (twice!).

Despite the popular legends about John Newton's writing of this song was NOT in any DIRECT way connected with his former history as a slaver-trader. In fact, Newton's involvment in the political struggle against the slave trade began several years AFTER these words were written.

Actually, Newton wrote MANY of his hymns not first of all as "personal reflections" or testimonies, but as an aid to his SERMONS. While preparing sermons he would often write a set of hymn lyrics related to the passage he was preaching from. Newton kept up this practice in part because he discovered the people remembered the words to the hymns better than the sermon, so it became a way of making sure they remembered his message.

The six verses we now know as "Amazing Grace" (minus what is often used as the final verse --"When we've been there ten thousand years. . . "--a later addition Newton did not write) was written for the 1773 New Year's Day morning sermon on 1 Chronicles 17:16-17 (part of David's prayer of thanks when God made a covenant with him and his household). The notes to that sermon closely follow the text of the song. When he published it in the *Olney Hymns* in 1779 (a work that also contained lyrics by the poet William Cowper, a good friend and assistant), Newton entitled this work, "Faith's Review and Expectation".
(text version of Olney Hymns - http://www.ccel.org/ccel/newton/olneyhymns.txt )

(About the last verse. It's association with "Amazing Grace" may be due to Harriet Beecher Stowe's combining it with a verse from the hymn in *Uncle Tom's Cabin* [1851]. From this some assumed it was an original verse of the hymn or even that Stowe wrote it But she seems to be pasting verses of various hymns here. The verse is generally attributed to John P. Rees, though originally written for a different hymn. )


http://www.mkheritage.co.uk/cnm/htmlpages/bulletinsample/amazinggrace.html
http://www.johnnewton.org/amazinggrace.html

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As for the TUNE.

First, there was NOT a set tune for this piece. We do not know what tune Newton and his congregants first used for these words. Like most writers of hymn lyrics in his day, Newton wrote words to a handful of common metrical pattern. The congregation would be taught a number of tunes to these various meters, and on any given Sunday the pastor or songleader could sing the day's hymns to ANY tunes that fit the pattern. This practice was further encouraged by the fact that, for a long time it was much more expensive to print music than lyrics, and difficult to print the two together on a page. As printing changed and lyrics & tunes could more easily and cheaply be printed together, it became the norm for many hymns to only be sung to ONE tune.

The earliest printing of the tune which we now think of as THE tune for "Amazing Grace" was in the 1831 shape-note tunebook *Virginia Harmony*, where the tune's name was listed as NEW BRITAIN. The tune is typically referred to as an "American folk tune", though the style and perhaps the tune itself seems to have Scottish or Irish roots. (Bill Moyers' suggestion that it was based on a slave song is sheer speculation, clearly driven by the "former slavetrader" storyline.)

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

"Amazing Grace" is one of the most well-known Christian hymns. The words were written by John Newton; they form a part of the Olney Hymns that he worked on, with William Cowper and other hymnodists.


John Newton (1725–1807) was the captain of a slave ship. On May 10th, 1748 returning home during a storm he experienced a "great deliverance." In his journal he wrote that the ship was in grave danger of sinking. He exclaimed "Lord, have mercy upon us!" He was converted, though he continued in the business of slave trading. However, he demanded that the slaves he transported be treated humanely.

Newton wrote the song "How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds" while waiting in an African harbor for a shipment of slaves. Later he renounced his profession, became a minister, and joined William Wilberforce in the fight against slavery.

It was suggested in a Bill Moyers PBS Special that Newton may have borrowed an old tune sung by the slaves themselves. The marked divergence of tempo, tone and instrumentality between African and Irish/Scottish/Celtic musical traditions cast doubt on this theory.

The now familiar and traditional melody of the hymn was not composed by Newton, and the words were sung to a number of tunes before the now inseparable melody was chanced upon.

There are two different tunes to the words. "New Britain" first appears in a shape note hymnal from 1831 called Virginia Harmony. Any original words sung to the tune are now lost. 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. The other tune is the so-called "Old Regular Baptist" tune. It was sung by the Congregation of the Little Zion Church, Jeff, Kentucky on the album "The Ritchie Family of Kentucky" on Folkways (1958).

Newton's lyrics have become a favourite for Christians of all denominations, largely because the hymn vividly and briefly sums up the Christian doctrine of Divine grace. The lyrics are loosely based around the text of Ephesians 2:4-8.

It has also become known as a favorite with supporters of freedom and human rights, both Christian and non-Christian, as it is believed by many to be a song against slavery, as Newton was once a slave trader. He continued to be a slave trader for several years after his experience, but later he became a clergyman. The song has been sung by many notable musical performers.

The hymn was quite popular among both sides in the American Civil War. While on the trail of tears, the Cherokee were not always able to give their dead a full burial. Instead, the singing of Amazing Grace had to suffice. Since then, Amazing Grace is often considered the Cherokee National Anthem. For this reason, many contemporary Native American musicians have recorded this song.

Answer 4

John Newton

Answer 5

John Newton

Answer 6

John Newton wote it.

Answer 7

Amazing Grace" is one of the most well-known Christian hymns. The words were written by John Newton; they form a part of the Olney Hymns that he worked on, with William Cowper and other hymnodists.

History
John Newton (1725–1807) was the captain of a slave ship. On May 10th, 1748 returning home during a storm he experienced a "great deliverance." In his journal he wrote that the ship was in grave danger of sinking. He exclaimed "Lord, have mercy upon us!" He was converted, though he continued in the business of slave trading. However, he demanded that the slaves he transported be treated humanely.

Newton wrote the song "How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds" while waiting in an African harbor for a shipment of slaves. Later he renounced his profession, became a minister, and joined William Wilberforce in the fight against slavery.

It was suggested in a Bill Moyers PBS Special that Newton may have borrowed an old tune sung by the slaves themselves. The marked divergence of tempo, tone and instrumentality between African and Irish/Scottish/Celtic musical traditions cast doubt on this theory.

The now familiar and traditional melody of the hymn was not composed by Newton, and the words were sung to a number of tunes before the now inseparable melody was chanced upon.

There are two different tunes to the words. "New Britain" first appears in a shape note hymnal from 1831 called Virginia Harmony. Any original words sung to the tune are now lost. 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. The other tune is the so-called "Old Regular Baptist" tune. It was sung by the Congregation of the Little Zion Church, Jeff, Kentucky on the album "The Ritchie Family of Kentucky" on Folkways (1958).

Newton's lyrics have become a favourite for Christians of all denominations, largely because the hymn vividly and briefly sums up the Christian doctrine of Divine grace. The lyrics are loosely based around the text of Ephesians 2:4-8.

It has also become known as a favorite with supporters of freedom and human rights, both Christian and non-Christian, as it is believed by many to be a song against slavery, as Newton was once a slave trader. He continued to be a slave trader for several years after his experience, but later he became a clergyman. The song has been sung by many notable musical performers.

The hymn was quite popular among both sides in the American Civil War. While on the trail of tears, the Cherokee were not always able to give their dead a full burial. Instead, the singing of Amazing Grace had to suffice. Since then, Amazing Grace is often considered the Cherokee National Anthem. For this reason, many contemporary Native American musicians have recorded this song.

Bagpipes
The association with bagpipes is a relatively modern phenomenon; for over a century the tune was nearly forgotten in the British Isles until the folk revival of the 1960s began carrying traditional musicians both ways between the British Isles and the United States (where Amazing Grace had remained a very popular hymn). It was little known outside of church congregations or folk festivals until Arthur Penn's film "Alice's Restaurant" (1969). Lee Hays of the Weavers leads the worshipers in "Amazing Grace". The song sounds particularly moving when played on the pipes and is commonly heard at funerals and memorial services.

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 has 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.
Yes, 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 call'd me here below,
Will be forever mine.
Some versions of the hymn include an additional verse:

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'd first begun.
This verse is not by Newton. It was added to a version of "Amazing Grace" by Harriet Beecher Stowe, as it appears in her novel Uncle Tom's Cabin. Uncle Tom has pieced the lyrics of several hymns together; those who learned the lyrics from the novel have assumed that it belongs.

Some versions include still another verse:

Shall I be wafted through the skies,
on flowery beds of ease,
where others strive to win the prize,
and sail through bloody seas.
This verse has been recorded by Pete Seeger and Arlo Guthrie. The verse really belongs with the hymn, "Am I a Soldier of the Cross?" by Isaac Watts.

Answer 8

John Newton!

Answer 9

John Newton, a man involved in the despicable business of trading slaves, wrote Amazing Grace. That is why he dubbed himslef a "wretch" , and changed his means of livlihood.

Answer 10

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