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John Newton, Amazing Grace

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Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)
That sav'd 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 reliev'd;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believ'd!
Thro' many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
‘Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

For many of us, Amazing, the first word of John Newton's famous hymn does not have three syllables but very nearly six, because what we hear, inevitably, is that old plantation melody, Loving Lambs, sung to which, and backed by a moody skirl of pipes, it rose to be top of the...

879 words

Citation: Curry, Neil. "Amazing Grace". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 30 January 2008 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=23519, accessed 09 June 2026.]

23519 Amazing Grace 3 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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