The words of Amazing Grace were written in 1772 by the Englishman John Newton who was a clergyman and poet and were later put to music by the American composer William Walker. It was originally a poem that came about from John Newtons experiences as a sailor on the slave ships of the time. As a young man Newton had a rebellious nature and was far from the religious man he would eventually become, but it was from such a background that the great song evolved.

I have taken Bluemillenium’s mix of Amazing Grace and added a second angelic version of Queeniemusics wonderful vocal. The subway sounds from Bluemillenium’s sample start and close the piece. The sounds have their origins in mixes by Spinningmerkaba and The Dice and I have used these sounds to create the juxtaposition between the beauty and the hope that is around us and the noise and mayhem we human beings create. After the first sung verse a piano starts to play chords and an ethereal sound accompanies the vocal. The ending sees the introduction of a male voice choir, crushing percussion and the jarring sounds of a charango as the chains that have kept us shackled are removed before everything is enveloped by the sounds of the streets.

I have used 3 different personas over the years with a total of 915 mixes!! Radiotimes, Shelflife and Radionontheshelf. My thanks go out to all the Mixters who have generously shared their music and allowed an old “Muso” to indulge himself. Thank you, Merci, gracias, danke, grazie.

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
‘Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far
And grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
and mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil
A life of joy and peace.
When we’ve been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’ve first begun.

John Newton, 1725–1807