Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now I’m found was blind, but now I see… I
remember hearing the above song Amazing Grace throughout my
childhood. I know the words to the beginning stanza so well that
whenever I hear the fi rst few bars of the melody, I sing along
by rote. I had always assumed that the tune was an old gospel
hymn and I was supposed to repeat the lyrics in the same manner
that I automatically stand and croon with pride James Weldon
Johnson’s Black National Anthem Lift Every Voice and Sing.
Although I clearly understand what the lyrics mean as I chant
Lift Every Voice and Sing, I was clueless about the meaning
behind the words for Amazing Grace. The music has a beautiful
soothing tone. The popular hymn is known around the world. I’ve
heard Amazing Grace played in all kinds of movies throughout the
years. I’ve witness hearing the mantra sung at funerals. Another
assumption I had was that the song was written by a slave in the
1800’s as they toil