| Amazing Grace is the best-known hymn of all times. | | | | and his natural singing talent puts it over the top. If |
| And now it is making a huge comeback in popularity | | | | you have not watched the video you are depriving |
| on YouTube, thanks to Wintley Phipps who is one of | | | | yourself of an encouraging inspiration that transcends |
| my favorite gospel singers. I have owned his | | | | words. |
| cassettes and CDs for more than twenty-five years. | | | | Amazing Grace, Wintley Phipps |
| He is also the President of The U.S. Dream Academy, | | | | To date, 2.5 million people have watched the video, |
| an organization for children of prisoners. | | | | and most of them may never have realized how |
| He makes a statement that most Negro Spirituals | | | | powerful this song, played only on the black keys of |
| were written on the black keys of the piano, and | | | | the piano truly is. |
| then he proves it. He plays "Every time I feel the | | | | In case you want to sing along, or you have never |
| Spirit", "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot", and then | | | | heard all of the verses, here they are. |
| "Amazing Grace", a so-called "white spiritual." The | | | | Amazing Grace |
| white spirituals were written by white composers | | | | Words by John Newton 1779 |
| who used only the black keys. | | | | Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound |
| Because I am a music teacher, I know those five | | | | That saved a wretch like me! |
| keys (notes) are called the pentatonic scale, but in | | | | I once was lost, but now am found |
| early America were referred to as the "slave scale". | | | | Was blind, but now I see. |
| They build the power and pathos of the Negro | | | | 'Twas Grace that taught my heart to fear, |
| Spirituals with their unique West African Sorrow | | | | And Grace my fears relieved. |
| Chant sound. | | | | How precious did that Grace appear |
| The words to Amazing Grace were written by John | | | | The hour I first believed. |
| Newton, a former Captain of a Slave Ship. After | | | | Through many dangers, toils, and snares |
| Newton came to salvation through Jesus Christ, he | | | | I have already come. |
| heard a melody coming from the belly of the ship, | | | | 'Tis Grace hath brought me safe thus far |
| and it is believed it was to that sorrowful melody | | | | And Grace will lead me home. |
| that he wrote the words and named it Amazing | | | | The Lord has promised good to me. |
| Grace. Go to the Copyright Office and you will see | | | | His Word my hope secures. |
| "Words, John Newton. Music, Unknown." | | | | He will my shield and portion be |
| Wintley says he believes God planned it to be written | | | | As long as life endures. |
| that way to remind us that we are all humans in | | | | When we've been there ten thousand years |
| common, no matter what race, creed, or color we | | | | Bright shining as the sun, |
| happen to be. We are all connected by God's | | | | We've no less days to sing God's praise |
| Amazing Grace. | | | | Than when we'd first begun. |
| In his deep, passionate voice, Wintley then begins - | | | | May God bless you as you listen to Wintley Phipps, a |
| without words - to sing Amazing Grace in the way | | | | beautiful African-American singer, singing only the |
| he imagines John Newton first heard it coming up out | | | | black notes. |
| of the belly of the ship. His pathos is overwhelming, | | | | |