Amazing Grace

“That in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:7 NIV).

It is said that the most recognized song in the English speaking world is John Newton’s “Amazing Grace.” First published in 1779, it has been a standard for not only sacred but secular performers as well. It is estimated that the song is still sung over 10 million times a year in churches around the world.

This song is amazing because of its author. Newton was a former slave ship captain before his Christian conversion. He later became a pastor and wrote this song to go along with his testimony. Newton was a man who wondered whether God could ever forgive one as sinful as he. This song expresses the wonder he felt at God’s free gift of life through Jesus.

It’s lyrics and tune are amazing too. Newton originally wrote six verses in 8.6.8.6. meter, a standard for poetry and hymns of that time. This common meter led to the song being sung to dozens of tunes over the years (Like the tune to “House of the Rising Sun” which has the same meter).

It wasn’t until 1835 when the tune “New Britain” was written to accompany it, that a tune finally stuck. This is the well known tune that we know today. A South Carolinian named William Walker wrote it using the pentatonic scale. This 5-note scale has been called the native tonality of every child and is common in folk tunes around the world, especially in the spirituals of African-Americans. It is known as the scale of improvisation because you can’t really play a bad note using it. Even the scale is full of grace.

Another amazing fact about this song is the origin of the seventh verse, which begins: “When we’ve been there ten thousand years…” This verse was first published in Harriet Beecher Stowe’s book, Uncle Tom’s Cabin. In her book, uncle Tom sings all six verses of “Amazing Grace” and then adds this seventh verse. Apparently, this verse had been written and passed on orally in the slave community of America for years.

What grace that a former slave captain would have his salvation song, sung and added to, by the very ones he had helped enslave!

The author, the message, the meter, and the tune all come together to make this an amazing song. But the thing that makes it most amazing to me is the face that I see nearly everytime I hear it. I see the face of my mother, Wilda Combs.

Wilda Dillon Combs was the lead singer for a gospel group called the Willow Branch Quartet. Both my mother and grandmother were in the group. My mother’s sister, Sharon, played the piano sometimes for them. My uncle Ralph Bays played guitar on their later recordings.

They were well known in the Southeast, especially in the 1950s and 60s when they sang regularly on the radio at WFHG Bristol, Virgina. They made many recordings on 78s, 45s, and LP albums. It was said that Wilda’s clear, bell-like voice is what gave their four part harmonies a distinctive sound.

For me, it was the combination of my mother’s voice and the look on her face when she sang. She looked as if she could see into heaven. This was especially true when she sang “Amazing Grace.” It was like God’s grace was showering down on her as she sang.

Amazing Grace – Wilda Combs

Today, I’m thankful for the “incomparable riches” of God’s amazing grace.