Today is the birthday of John Newton (1725-1807). His father was a ship's captain, and he went to sea with him at age seven after his mother died. He was pressed into the Royal Navy and deserted, was caught and punished, then traded as cargo to a slave trader. Eventually he ended up as a slaver captain himself and carried human cargo between Africa and the West Indies.
In 1748, he had a spiritual conversion during a violent storm off the coast of Ireland. As the ship was breaking up, he prayed to God, and the ship did not sink. He wrote the first lines of "Amazing Grace" while the boat was being repaired. He stopped gambling and drinking and eventually gave up the slave trade. Newton became an minister and outspoken abolitionist.
The message of the song is forgiveness and redemption are possible regardless of the sins committed, and the soul can be delivered from despair through the mercy of God. "Amazing Grace" is one of the most recognizable songs in the English language. The tune crossed over from a gospel standard to secular audiences.
It was one of the first songs I tried to learn on the ukulele. I'm not ready for YouTube yet, but in the meantime, here's a very pretty ukulele solo version.
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