last night i watched Amazing Grace with my mum and sister. my sister didn't get it but then again she's a bit young to understand slavery and court justice in the 18th century...but i loved the film. even though it's in the past, it made me realise what happened only 150 years ago. not even.
when i was a 4-8, i used to go to this english catholic school and we used to sing that hyme. i had no idea what it meant, where it came from and what it was trying to say. i just sang on cuz i had to and bsides, i liked singing. now that i know what it is, it changes everything. the man who wrote it had been captain of a slave ship until he realised how wrong it was and retired to be a monk in a small church with no one there but his 20 000 slave ghosts. at least that's what he said. i'm no longer religious, never really was, to be honest, but i am still touched by the hymes sung and that i used to sing every morning at school for 4 years, without knowing that i sung of slavery and such.
"Amazing Grace"
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That sav'd 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 reliev'd;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believ'd!
Thro' many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promis'd good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.
Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who call'd me here below,
Will be forever mine.
John Newton, Olney Hymns (London: W. Oliver, 1779)