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Since I learned the origins of "Amazing Grace," I've been rather fascinated with the history of it. It was written by a former slave ship captain, John Newton. He realized one day that what he was doing was wrong, and eventually wrote "Amazing Grace."


Can't Get Enough of Your Sweet Sound

I listened to your song for years
Not understanding through deaf ears
Until the day I could finally hear
Here's to you John Newton...for turning it around

CHORUS
Now I can't get enough of your sweet sound
Can't get enough of your sound

If Amazing Grace could save a wretch like you
Maybe it can save one such as me
Like you, I was once blind
But now I try to see

And I can't get enough of your sweet sound
Can't get enough of your sound

Through many dangers, toils and snares
You taught of one who truly cares
Who always stops to answer prayers
Here's to you John Newton...you were so profound

CHORUS
Now I can't get enough of your sweet sound
Can't get enough of your sound

If Amazing Grace could save a wretch like you
Maybe it can save one such as me
Like you, I was once blind
But now I try to see

And I can't get enough of your sweet sound
Can't get enough of your sound

Way back in seventeen forty eight
You lived those words that still write my fate
Your story proves it's not too late
Here's to you John Newton...you still astound

CHORUS
Now I can't get enough of your sweet sound
Can't get enough of your sound

If Amazing Grace could save a wretch like you
Maybe it can save one such as me
Like you, I was once blind
But now I try to see

And I can't get enough of your sweet sound
Can't get enough of your sound

ENDING
Here's to you John Newton....you've heaven bound!
And I can't get enough of your sound

(c) 2011 Lisa Gundling

Hi, Lisa!!

Amazing Grace is absolutely beautiful... one of my favorites! And the entire lyric makes perfect sense, especially when we learn about the man that wrote it, and discover that the song is largely his Testimony. I think that old song is proof that Jesus never goes out of style!

And your lyric is lovely, Lisa! Please don't get me wrong here, I really mean what I am about to say in love... this critique is difficult, and may be partly why many would possibly shy away from critiquing Christian based songs altogether. I feel, and this is just my opinion, that you are giving the glory and credit to the wrong person. I don't mean to assume that you are Christian or that you intend for this song to lean in that direction (though I hope so), but it feels like it leans that way to me. If that be the case, then with a few tweaks, I think you could still make it clear that this man's story, as well as the song he wrote, impacts you/narrator in a very positive and spiritual way after all these generations, while giving the credit where it's due. I could give a few examples, but incase I have assumed wrong, I'll wait.

--Jen

LISA--

I also read a lot about this song a while back--but I never could write anything about the history of "Amazing Grace"--It is very interesting what you have come up with--I like it very much--Good Luck with finishing it with music--

Later,

Mackie

This is an interesting project Lisa. I never knew the history of the writer up until now and I can see why Newton had this Road to Damascus rebirth after the ghastly business he made his living from.
I like the lyric a lot and would like to hear the finished product. The only critism if I could call it that is the market for the song?
But it is obviously a very personal lyric so I imagine you needed to get your admiration and thoughts of Newton into words
With best wishes
Travis

Hi Jen,

Thanks so much for your frank assessment regarding the various interpretations this could endgender!

In verses 1 and 3, I was trying to express gratefulness to the messenger (John Newton) for being courageous enough to see the evil which he allowed to overtake him, to look unflinchingly at the carnage he created and take responsibility for it, and to humble himself before his contemporaries and before God, all in the context of the pre-Civil War era. (Of course, he was from Britain, but the British didn't abolish slavery until the 1800s, I think.) The point being, of course, that at the time, Newton certainly wasn't committing a crime and society didn't expect him to express any sorrow or apologies.

In verse 1, when I say, "here's to you John Newton....for turning it around" -- I was referring to turning his situation around and in the process helping to turn others around. In verse 2, I tried to express gratitude for his teaching of God's Amazing Grace, and in verse 3, I meant that his teachings of God were profound.

In the chorus, I was trying to express gratefulness directly to God. In my mind, I was giving God the best part of the song -- the chorus! The "I can't get enough of your sweet sound" is supposed to refer both to Newton's hymm and to God, interchangeably.

However, intent and carrying it off are two different things! If this comes across as though Newton is more important than God, then that wasn't my intent at all and I'd love to hear any of your suggestions for switching the power balance!

I didn't write this with the intent of being a Christian lyric, though of course it is! I am a work-in-progress Christian, and not a particularly good specimen at that.

Anyway...I really appreciate your perspective on this and would, as I said, be very open to any of your suggestions!

Thanks!
Lisa

Hi Mackie,

Thank you -- I'm so glad that you like it!

Regarding the music, it's funny because a few hours ago I was working here on my responses, about to tell you that I'm not a musician or a singer, when my eight-year-old son came up and asked me what I was doing. I told him that I wrote a lyric, and he asked to see it. He's never asked before. I showed him the computer screen and then he stood right there and sang the whole thing! It was so fun for me to hear it! He switched two words around in the chorus. Instead of "once was blind" he sang "was once blind." It sounded good, so I'm making the change! ho ho!

Lisa

Hi Travis,

Thank you for your thoughtful comments. And yes, the history of the writer makes Amazing Grace even more compelling. I read that prior to being the captain of the slave ship at the age of 20, he was basically taken prisoner by the Royal Navy at the age of 18, as, apparently, many young men were, and he lived in absolutely deplorable conditions as a sailor. He was beaten and starved, amongst other things, I believe, and the ship's captain hated him. To get rid of him, he was given to the slave ship. Apparently, most of what we know about slave ships today came from his writings.

Regarding the marketability....I really don't know. But, as I mentioned to Mackie above, my son sang the song tonight, and that's enough for me!

Lisa

This is a really great lyric, not really what I view as my cup of tea, but still good.

Hi, Lisa!!

BIG sigh of relief to read your comment back! I think as Christians we are all "works-in-progress"!! I like that take on it!

As for marketability... yes, this is definitely Christian, and with some minor tweaking to change the focus, you could have an audience in that genre, imo. This song is beautiful...so here are my ideas, kos!


I listened to Your song for years
Not understanding through deaf ears
Until the day I could finally hear
Here's to You, LORD...for turning John Newton around

CHORUS
Now I can't get enough of Your sweet sound
Can't get enough of Your sound

Your Amazing Grace saveD a wretch like HIM
AND SPARED A DOUBLE PORTION FOR ME
Like HIM, I was once blind
But THIS HOUR, I DO BELIEVE/TRULY SEE (This line is to set it more apart from the original, by incorporating a different verse from the original)

And I can't get enough of Your sweet sound
Can't get enough of Your sound

Through many dangers, toils and snares
HE taught THAT IT'S YOU, LORD, who truly cares
Who always stops to answer prayers
Here's to You, THROUGH John Newton...You were so profound

CHORUS
Now I can't get enough of Your sweet sound
Can't get enough of Your sound

Your Amazing Grace saveD a wretch like HIM
AND SPARED A DOUBLE PORTION FOR ME
Like HIM, I was once blind
But THIS HOUR, I DO BELIEVE

And I can't get enough of Your sweet sound
Can't get enough of Your sound

Way back in seventeen forty eight
THOSE WORDS WERE PENNED that still write my fate
JOHN'S story proves it's not too late
Here's to You, LORD..YOUR MAN AND YOUR SONG still astound

CHORUS
Now I can't get enough of Your sweet sound
Can't get enough of Your sound

Your Amazing Grace saveD a wretch like HIM
AND SPARED A DOUBLE PORTION FOR ME
Like HIM, I was once blind
But THIS HOUR, I DO BELIEVE

And I can't get enough of Your sweet sound
Can't get enough of Your sound

ENDING
Here's to you John Newton....you'Re heaven bound!
And LORD, JESUS, I can't get enough of Your sound!

(c) 2011 Lisa Gundling

Evening Lisa. I also did not know the story behind this song. I think that the way you incorporated that story with yours is remarkable and with the right amount of "tweaking". as suggested, you will have a compelling lyric.

Good luck with it!

Douglas

Hi Jen!

Wow -- thank you for taking the time to help me shift the focus of this lyric! Taking your lead and keeping your focus and many of your changes, I made some additional changes (below) -- some structural and some minor. What do you think? I didn't put caps where the changes were made because it got to be too confusing!

Can we call this a co-write?! I'd be delighted if so! And, if so, I realize that this is a joint work in progress and remain open to any and all edits!

Thanks!!
Lisa

P.S. Jen -- I posted this and then just now made two changes. In verse 2, last sentence, I changed it to "YOUR redemption" and in verse 3, last sentence, I changed it to YOUR peace.

CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF YOUR SWEET SOUND

I listened to your song for years
Not understanding through deaf ears
Until the day I could finally hear
John Newton found you and was turned around

CHORUS
Now I can't get enough of your sweet sound
Can't get enough of your sound
Here's to you, Lord....for turning us around
And we can't get enough of your sound

Your Amazing Grace saved a wretch like him
I trust it will shield one such as me
Like him, I once was blind
But this hour I truly see

Here's to you, Lord...for turning us around
And we can't get enough of your sound

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I learned of you who truly cares
Who always stops to answer prayers
John Newton found your redemption so profound

CHORUS (change)
Now I can't get enough of your sweet sound
Can't get enough of your sound
Here's to you, Lord....for being so profound
And we can't get enough of your sound

Your Amazing Grace saved a wretch like him
I trust it will shield one such as me
Like him, I once was blind
But this hour, I truly see

Here's to you, Lord...for being so profound
And we can't get enough of your sound

Way back in seventeen forty eight
Words were penned which still write my fate
The story proves that it's not too late
John Newton found your peace that still astounds

CHORUS (change)
Now I can't get enough of your sweet sound
Can't get enough of your sound
Here's to you, Lord....you still astound
And we can't get enough of your sound

Your Amazing Grace saved a wretch like him
I trust it will shield one such as me
Like him, I once was blind
But this hour, I truly see

Here's to you, Lord...you still astound
And we can't get enough of your sound

ENDING
Here's to you John Newton....you're heaven bound!
And Lord, Jesus, we can't get enough of your sound!

Hi Meg,

Thanks so much!! I'm so glad that you like it, even though it's not your cup of tea. I understand -- I wouldn't have had the tea a few years back either....but things change!

Lisa

Hi Douglas,

Thanks for stopping by with your insights and encouragement! Jen has been refocusing this for me, and I just wrote back to Jen with some additional edits which I hope meet the tweaking standard you mention!

Lisa

Hi, Lisa! Your changes are lovely.. the new structure is gorgeous, the way you use "around" in V1, Ch1, and Reprise1... Then "profound" in V2, Ch2, and Reprise2, and finishing with "astound" in in the end! You did good... real good!!

It was a blessing to me to get to help... and that is enough for me, so co-write credit is not necessary, though I'm honored and grateful that you asked. If we continue to work so well together, we'll share co's on others. I always appreciate your thoughtful feedback on mine!

On this one... save the co-write for anyone who may be able to help you get it to music. But I might suggest you ask your son to look at it again with the revisions, and have him sing it now! I found it interesting that I felt lead by the Spirit to help with the words, and at the same time, the Lord may be using your son to bring you the "slightly revised" melody!

--Jen

An interesting story. Not being religious, I prefer the version addressing John Newton. He may well have been an influence in getting slavery abolished, although it did not happen for many years.

Some history according to Wikipedia.... "Britain banned the importation of African slaves in its colonies in 1807, and the United States followed in 1808. Britain abolished slavery throughout the British Empire with the Slavery Abolition Act 1833, the French colonies abolished it 15 years later, while slavery in the United States was abolished in 1865 with the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution"

I once spent a week on a Windjammer cruise on an old sailing ship in the Caribbean. Amazing Grace was played on the bagpipes every day when the sails were raised. Very stirring!

One of my favorite songs, and I am always asked to sing it for funerals, which is not the greatest of audiences, especially the person it is dead-icated to, but it always moves the gathered, and myself too. Thanks for your kind words Lisa.... they are appreciated always.~~~MFB III

Hi Jen,

I'm smiling over your words. You are very gracious and I feel very grateful that you brought your wisdom here. You made me realize that the changes were necessary. When I first posted this lyric, I was a little concerned that, although John Newton found redemption, that this might be too heavy handed for such a difficult subject. Newton did, after all, have much to be forgiven for. At the same time, I resisted the Christian lyric route. However, once you waltzed in with so much enthusiasm...it freed me to take that plunge! I'm still toying around with it and trying to get accustomed to the Christian lyric style. Simple things -- like using "Lord." I grew up living with my very old Chinese grandmother in my home, and she didn't speak much English, but she would read her Bible often, get down on her almost 100-year-old knees and pray often, and speak of God. Simple statements in broken English -- "God very good, Leee-ahh." She never used "Lord" and she was our household's main spiritual guide (my parents followed her lead), so I never used it either! So, to see it in this lyric feels strange to me. I tried replacing it with "God" or "Jesus" and that didn't seem right either!

That being said....thank you so much for pushing me right out of my comfort zone! I needed that! And, as you suggest, I will try to recapture my son's interest in this and if he comes up with something, I'll report back!

Thanks again, Jen! I would very much look forward to working together in the future!

Lisa

Hi Colin,

Thanks so much for the visit and history! I didn't realize that the slave ships had been outlawed at that early date in the United States.

I don't know how much of an effect Newton had on the abolition movement, but I did read that most of the information that is known today about slave ships came from Newton's writings. So much of the abolition movement was about changing the hearts and minds of people, so I'm sure that his descriptions of the ships had an impact.

On a related note...I read an outstanding book about abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison. He was a powerful force in ending slavery in the U.S. The title is ALL ON FIRE and the title comes from something Garrison said to a friend when his friend asked him why the abolition of slavery consumes him. Garrison replied:

"I have need to be all on fire,
for I have mountains of ice about me to melt."

That is my all-time favorite quote!

That WIndjammer cruise sounds cool -- I'd have taken it just for the daily bagpipe ceremony!

Lisa

Hi MFB,

Your observation about the irony of the dedication made me laugh...I had never thought of it that way! ho ho! I always thought that singing at a funeral has to be one of the toughest places to sing, though it must also be quite a special feeling. I never remember wedding singers, but I always remember something about the singer at a funeral.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Lisa

HIDee Mz Lisa!

I'm with Colin...think Version One's a real Fine Tribute to the man who Helped Ya focus your mind. (& there are more-than-enough Jesus Songs already "Out There".) ;-)>

DID take some time to Wikipedia John Newton this AM after being-inspired. He's a "Jr"...same name as Dad...AND "Amazing Grace" was actually Titled "Faith's Review & Expectations"...

"Nonconformist Christians" are my Favorite Kind..& he was Quite A Talented & Unusual Guy... Thanks for improving My Awareness this AM! Good Luck with a Good'n', M'LadyChum!

Best Wishes & Big Hugs,
Stan

Hi Stan,

Thank you -- I'm glad you like it!

In terms of pure marketability, if I'm to think that away about a lyric of mine, going the "Jesus song" route with it is probably, in the end, the most marketable way to go because my original version sort of sits in the murky middle ground. I'm thinking of the non-Christian friends that I have, and I can't imagine any of them wanting to sing my original version, because they'd view it as being too Christian (I confirmed with a couple of them yesterday). On the other hand, the Christian friends I know would probably prefer the "Jesus song" version (I confirmed with a couple of them yesterday too!). I fall in the middle somewhere, though I feel very good that Jen inspired and helped me to craft another version that I feel inspired by!

That original song title you mention sounds so typical of that era -- very interesting! Thanks for the information and for coming by with your always-lively-and-never-dull observations!

Lisa

Love these lessons Lisa, and no matter how it turns out, yeah, when your son sang it, it became all you want it to be. Whatever comes next is simply gravy as they say.

One suggestion

I listened to your song for years
Not understanding, closed up my ears

Hi John,

Regarding your change...it's ironically coincidental because in one of my original drafts (before posting) I had the same exact thing you've written, except I had used "closed" instead of "closed up." However, I changed it after a while because I thought it sounded like I intentionally closed them and was trying not to hear, which isn't the case at all. It's only later that I realized they were closed. So, I thought that "deaf" sounded unintentional.

It's true what you say about my son. I can't seem to interest him in getting involved again, I think because he senses my eagerness to get him to sing it, even though I'm trying to be low key! It just happened naturally before...

Thanks, John!

Lisa

hey Lisa,you've taken my favorite gospel and wrote all around it like heaven sent.i really like this one.I love to play harmonica on this one,it can get nice and bluesy.

Thanks, Michael!
I'm so glad that you like it! And I really like your phrasing, "wrote all around it like heaven sent." Sounds like something I should somehow include in the lyric!

Lisa