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This recording has a purpose of teaching my students Amazing Grace.

The history of "Amazing Grace" is a powerful story of personal redemption, though its popular "sanitized" version often differs from the historical reality. The song's lyrics were written by John Newton, a former slave trader who underwent a slow and complex spiritual transformation. 

The Origins of the Lyrics

• The Author: John Newton (1725–1807) was an English sailor who was known in his youth for his profanity and rebellion. He was eventually pressed into the Royal Navy, deserted, was captured, and eventually became involved in the Atlantic slave trade.
• The Turning Point: In 1748, while aboard the ship Greyhound, Newton encountered a violent storm off the coast of Ireland. Fearing for his life, he called out to God for mercy. While the ship survived, his conversion was not immediate; he continued to captain slave ships for several years after this event.   
• The Poem: Newton eventually left the sea due to health issues and became an Anglican priest in the small town of Olney, England. He wrote the words to "Amazing Grace" (originally titled "Faith’s Review and Expectation") to accompany a New Year's Day sermon on January 1, 1773. The lyrics reflected his own "wretched" past and his gratitude for God's forgiveness.   

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