Amazing Grace is a song that many people know today. It has touching lyrics that speak of God, and how a man found God. However, the lyrics are really talking about John Newton’s life.
John Newton, born in 1725, worked as a ship captain on a slave ship until the 1750s. Over the years he tad this job, he took about six million people from Africa to be slaves in the United States. He would trade them for alcohol, weapons, and other objects. Over his tenure as a slave trader, he never freed a slave. One day, Newton had a close call with his life. His ship got caught in a storm, and he just got out alive. Because of this tragedy, he became a Christian.
Upon his return, Newton became a priest. While in this profession, Newton composed Amazing Grace. The date of composition is unsure, however people believe it was around 1772. The melody is believed to come from a song slaves sung while on the ship, awaiting their fate in the United States. The lyrics show how regretful Newton was for his first lifestyle.
Through the years, the song had many different titles as well as some changes. Today, the song is an uplifting tune that few would believe originated from the slave trade. It is used today as an inspirational song that will give hope to those who need it. Amazing Grace shows how a man, John Newton, changed, felt remorse for his actions, and changed.
No comments:
Post a Comment