Why I’ll Never Sing ‘Amazing Grace’ the Same Way Again
How a Childhood Hymn Shaped — and Shattered — My Faith
“Amazing Grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost
But now I’m found
T’was blind but now I see”~John Newton~
For as long as I can remember, “Amazing Grace” has been a constant in my life. It’s the kind of song that feels like an old friend — always showing up just when you need it. From the pews of my conservative childhood church to quiet moments of reflection in my adult years, it’s been there, offering a sense of hope and a reminder of something bigger than myself.
And I’m far from the only one who feels this way.
Amazing Grace isn’t just a hymn; it’s a phenomenon. It’s been recorded over 3,000 times, according to the U.S. Library of Congress, and its influence extends well beyond church walls. In 1972, an instrumental version by the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards — featuring the iconic sound of bagpipes — spent five weeks at number one on the UK Singles Chart and became the best-selling single in the UK that year. It even cracked the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, peaking at number 11.
Not bad for a 250 year old song.
