Analysis of the Religious Song Amazing Grace - Essay Example

The song was first published in 1779. John Newton was an English poet and clergyman and the songstresses on forgiveness and redemption and offers hope for the believer that he/she will be saved by God’s grace in spite of the sins committed by the person. Rogers was right when he observed that the song contained so much of the personal experiences of the composer himself; for him, John Newton himself as “the self-proclaimed wretch who once was lost but then was found, saved by amazing grace” (Rogers).

Many who love the song do so for its melodious tone even though the origin of the melody is unknown. However, it is commonly agreed that the song resembles ancient American folk melodies sung by the slaves. ‘Amazing Grace’ can be regarded as one of the finest hymns of the time. Hymns are religious songs that praise, adore, and offer prayers to any deity or deities. As such, one can notice that the whole song is a Hymn praying to God to shower His grace and blessings on the blind humans and to lead man safely.

The song can be best understood as an invocation by a devotee who confesses his sins and believes in God’s unending mercy. It was God’s grace that led the devotee through “many dangers, toils, and snares” and it is the same grace of God that offers him hope now. Similarly, he believes that God’s grace can relieve him from all sorts of fears and he trusts in God’s promise. The song also echoes the devotee’s strong belief in life after death where he expects to lead “a life of joy and peace”.

No doubt, the theme of the song and its universal appeal to the listeners has immensely contributed to the wide acceptance and popularity of the song. The composition of the song and its simple lyrics deserve primary attention when one thinks of the voice, texture, and tune of the hymn. The song is usually sung in chorus with instrumental accompaniment and the melody of the song touches the heart of the listener. In fact, the song can be categorized as a Canata. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines Canata as “a composition for one or more voices usually comprising solos, duets, recitatives, and choruses and sung to an instrumental accompaniment”