Amazing Grace is the most popular song on Earth. It has been sung more times by more people in more languages, than any other song in the history of the planet. Amazing Grace is probably one of the best known hymns in the world today. The words tell of the grace of God - the gift of forgiveness and life that he gives to us freely.A rendition of Amazing Grace by Judy Collins went to the top of the popular music charts in the U.S. in the 1970s. It was the first and only time a spiritual song has done this.The hymn was written by John Newton, an English man who was born in 1725.(more info on Newton below) During the first 30 years of his life, Newton was certainly a miserable, unhappy, and mean person--in other words, "a wretch." As a child he was rebellious and constantly in trouble. As a young man he used profanity, drank excessively, and went through periods of violent, angry behavior. When Newton was in his early twenties, he became involved in the slave trade: living in Africa, hunting down slaves, and managing a "slave factory" (where the unfortunate captives were held for sale). Later he was the captain of a slave ship which made three voyages from Great Britain to Africa (where he loaded a cargo of slaves) and finally to America to sell them. During one voyage he cried out to God for mercy as the ship was tossed about in a storm. His ship was spared and John Newton began his walk towards Christ. He continued to be a slave trader for some years but there was a slow transformation and within the next 20 years Newton had given up this life and had become the parish priest of Olney, a village near London. Whilst here he wrote the the words to the famous hymn, Amazing Grace. (compiled from various sources on the Internet)This NEW BLUEGRASS VERSION of this Classic HYMN was produced by Shiloh Worship Music. We pray this song blesses you and draws you into His Amazing Presence. It is a bluegrass version of the tune, with Banjo,Guitar, Acoustic Bass, Mandolin and Fiddles . Vintage footage from Appalachia accompanies this traditional Bluegrass hymnVISIT OUR YouTube CHANNEL http://www.youtube.com/user/ShilohWorshipGroupWords: John Newton (1715-1807)Music: American melody from Carrell's and Clayton's Virginia Harmony (1831) AMAZING GRACED G DAmazing grace! How sweet the sound D AThat saved a wretch like me! D G DI once was lost but now I'm found; Bm D A DWas blind, but now I see.'Twas grace that taught my heart to fearAnd grace my fears relieved.How precious did that grace appearThe hour I first believed!The Lord has promised good to me;His Word my hope secures.He will my shield and portion beAs long as life endures.Through many dangers toils and snaresI have already come.'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus farAnd grace will lead me home.When we've been there ten thousand years,Bright shining as the sun,We've no less days to sing God's praiseThan when we first begun.© 2012 Shiloh Worship Music COPY FREELY;This Music is copyrighted to prevent misuse, however,permission is granted for non-commercial copying-Radio play permitted.www.shliohworshipmusic.comJohn NewtonFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaJohn Newton.John Henry Newton (July 24, 1725 December 21, 1807) was a British sailor and Anglican clergyman. Starting his career at sea, at a young age, he became involved with the slave trade for a few years. After experiencing a religious conversion, he became a minister, hymn-writer, and later a prominent supporter of the abolition of slavery. He was the author of many hymns, including "Amazing Grace" and "Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken."Early lifeJohn Newton was born in Wapping, London, in 1725, the son of John Newton Sr., a shipmaster in the Mediterranean service, and Elizabeth Newton (née Seatclife), a Nonconformist Christian. His mother died of tuberculosis in July, 1732, about two weeks before his seventh birthday.[1] Two years later,