Grace Close, Salisbury

Grace Close is on the ‘Fugglestone Red’ estate at the northern end of the Devizes Road.

The Meaning of Grace

‘Grace’ in English has two or three separate strands of meaning – incorporating elegance, gratitude and the blessing of God.

An online dictionary says that:

For the ancient Romans, gratia had three distinct meanings:

(1) a pleasing quality,

(2) favor or goodwill, and

(3) gratitude or thanks.

We find all three of these meanings in modern-day English.

The first when we describe someone as having (or not having) grace: ‘Dancing, she had all the grace of an elephant on skates’. The second when we talk about giving or getting grace: ‘by the grace of God.’ And the third when we say grace (i.e., ‘thanks’) at a meal. [1]

Amazing Grace

I thought it might be interesting to write a little about the song ‘Amazing Grace’

The story of Amazing Grace is well known.

In 1748, an ungodly slave trader named John Newton was almost ship-wrecked in a terrible storm in the Atlantic[2]. He cried out to God for help and did indeed survive the storm, coming ashore at Lough Swilley in County Donegal[3].

This began a process of conversion which eventually saw him become curate of the village of Olney in Buckinghamshire in 1764. At Olney he began to write hymns with the poet William Cowper. The most famous of these hymns was ‘Amazing Grace’. The song was first paired with the ‘New Britain’ melody that we know today in 1835.

Newton did not immediately turn against slavery on his conversion to Christianity, but later in life he campaigned against it. In 1787 he wrote his ‘Thoughts on the African Slave Trade’ which began with an apology for his role in slavery. In 1788, [4] Newton gave evidence to the Privy Council[5].

Image from Amazon

There is a lot more detail on the story of the writing of the song at:

• Wikipedia ‘Amazing Grace’ page.
• The Library of Congress pages for ‘Amazing Grace’ – especially the ‘timeline’ which has clips of various performances
• The Lough Swilly ‘Amazing Grace’ website

There are also a couple of interesting looking recent books on the subject (The links take you to the books’ Amazon pages):

• John Newton: From Disgrace to “Amazing Grace” by the disgraced former government minister Jonathon Aitken. After Aitken’s conviction he too converted to Christianity
• Amazing Grace: John Newton, Slavery and the World’s Most Enduring Song by Steve Turner, a music critic who has also written a biography of Marvin Gaye. The American edition is called ‘The Story of America’s Most Beloved Song’

Image from Amazon

Some versions of the song

Amazon currently lists 590 hits for ‘Amazing Grace’[6]

The song has been a hit pop record in the UK in two different versions. The first was by Judy Collins, who reached Number 5 in December 1970. Her version re-entered the charts at number 40 in September the next year.

In 1972, the ‘Pipes and Drums and Military Band Of The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards’ took their version of the tune to Number 1. On the back of that, Judy Collins’ version climbed back to number 20

The following lists some of the versions of the song that I found interesting for one reason or another. The images and some of the links take you through to the appropriate Amazon page.

	Judy Collins’s version of Amazing Grace is largely un-accompanied. She saw is as a protest song, of sorts. She said: “The [Vietname] war was still raging. There was nothing to do, I thought but to pray and sing hymns to life. Nothing left but to sing Amazing Grace. [7]“
	The Pipes and Drums and the Military Band of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guardsversion of ‘Amazing Grace’ went to number 1 in the UK pop charts in 1972 [8]. Playing ‘Amazing Grace’ on the bagpipes seems almost a cliche now, but it wasn’t always a natural fit. According to Steve Turner’s book ‘Amazing Grace: John Newton, Slavery and the World’s Most Enduring Song‘, Mel Jameson of the Dragoon Guards was summoned to see the director of bagpipe music at Edinburgh Castle who asked ‘How dare you do this to the bagpipes?’ The Dragoons used some of Judy Collins’ melody. Collins wrote “I loved that version and I also got paid for it. I owned the publishing on my version and they used the harmony.” [9]. The song was originally arranged for the bagpipes by Stuart Fairbairn of the Royal Scots Greys. The Greys were being amalgamated with the Dragoons, and the tune was intended for an album called ‘Farewell to the Greys’[10].
	Lesley Garrettcovered Amazing Grace in 2008. Garrett was principal soprano of the English National Opera in the 1980s, but has since ‘crossed over’ to a wider audience.
	Personally, I love Elvis’ music. In particular, I’m a big fan of his gospel music. Elvis recorded ‘Amazing Grace’ in the early 1970s, for his final gospel LP. Elvis’ first two gospel records, His Hand In Mine and How Great Thou Art come out of the tradition of American gospel music. His cover of ‘Amazing Grace’ however seems to come out of his interest in the 1960s folk revival – the preceding song in the recording session was Ewan MaColl’s ‘The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face’ [11]. Personally, I prefer Elvis’ earlier gospel records.
	Mica Paris recorded Amazing Grace on her 2008 collection of ‘Soul Classics. I’ve not heard the studio version of this as yet, but there are live clips on Youtube.
	This one’s a bit odd. According to Wikipedia, “‘Amazing Grace’ is not listed on the label on most editions, and on some CDs is part of ‘That’s All Right’. It’s not listed in the Amazon track listing either, but ‘Thats All Right’ is six minutes long, so perhaps the songs are combined here. I’d be fascinated to hear how this is done – on the face of it I can’t imagine two songs which would go together less naturally. There’s a fragment of Rod Stewart singing Amazing Grace on YouTube here – it’s a very low-key recording – just a guitar and the voice. I’d like to hear more of it.
	Joan Baezsaid the following ‘I never thought of it [Amazing Grace] as a Christian song. It was a song that was associated with Civil Rights and the Movement. I don’t think anyone at the time thought of it as a religious song. Like ‘Swing Low, Sweet Chariot’ it had developed a life of its own’ – [12]‘
	Johnny Cash recorded ‘Amazing Grace’ in 1975 for his album ‘Johnny Cash Sings Precious Memories’. It was recorded in memory of his brother Jack who was killed in a milling accident when they were boys. Cash included the song when he played in prisons. Wikipedia quotes him saying “For the three minutes that song is going on, everybody is free. It just frees the spirit and frees the person”[13]
	Aretha Franklin released the LP ‘Amazing Grace’ in 1972. It was her biggest selling record, and the biggest selling gospel album of all time[14]. The LP was the subject of a book in the very good ’33 1/3′ series. Aretha Franklin’s version of Amazing Grace is seen as a classic. I must admit that I don’t like it very much.
	Susan Boyle’sversion of Amazing Grace is relatively sedate, but her voice makes it a great rendition. It would have been interesting to hear her sing the song un-accompanied in the manner of Judy Collins.
	Mahalia Jackson Mahalia Jackson sung Amazing Grace at Civil Rights marches. She used it “to give magical protection—a charm to ward off danger, an incantation to the angels of heaven to descend…. I was not sure the magic worked outside the church walls … in the open air of Mississippi. But I wasn’t taking any chances[15].”
	Katherine Jenkins sang ‘Amazing Grace’ at the Berlin Live 8 in 2005[16]. Jenkins is a ‘mezzo soprano’. I think I marginally prefer her version of the song to Lesley Garrett’s.
	Finally, Meryl Streep. Personally, ‘Amazing Grace’ will always remind me of the final scene of ‘Silkwood’. Meryl Streep as the worker worker/activist Karen Silkwood’s face is illuminated in the lights of a car behind her, just before she dies in a car accident. I had always assumed that this was the Judy Collins version, but it was actually a pre-Mamma Mia vocal from Streep[17]. I wasn’t sure whether ‘Amazing Grace’ was an appropriate song choice, but nearly 30 years on the song still reminds me of Karen Silkwood.

Amazing Grace on Desert Island Discs

Amazing Grace has been chosen by 17 prospective castaways[18]. These are:

• Bear Grylls, 27 Nov 2011, Adventurer – Chris Hutchison
• Frankie Dettori 15 Jan 2006 Jockey – The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
• Karan Bilimoria 13 Jun 2004 Businessman – The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
• Martin Bell 15 Jul 2001 Journalist, Politician – Bands & Pipes of the Household Division
• Barbara Taylor Bradford, 27 Apr 1985, Novelist – The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
• David Broome, 14 Feb 1981, Show jumper – The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
• Joe Henderson, 15 Jul 1972, Pianist, – The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
• Camila Batmanghelidjh, 22 Oct 2006, Children’s campaigner, – The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
• Ewan McGregor, 30 Dec 2001, Actor, – Choir of Cregagh Presbyterian Church, Belfast
• Professor Ghillean Prance, 13 Dec 1992, Botanist, – The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
• Sir Ian MacGregor, 05 Oct 1986, Businessman, Industrialist, – The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
• Jackie Stewart, 22 Jun 1986, Formula One driver, – The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
• Anna Raeburn, 27 May 1978, Agony aunt, Broadcaster, – The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
• David Niven, 30 Apr 1977, Oscar winning actor – Aretha Franklin
• Reverend Ian Paisley, 07 Aug 1988, Northern Ireland MP and MEP, Leader of Democratic Unionist Party, Politician – DUP, – Bob Jones University Choir
• Bob Jones – Amazing Grace, Norris McWhirter, 10 Feb 1979, Editor of the Guinness Book of Records,
• Lt-Colonel John Blashford-Snell, 30 Oct 1976, Soldier, Explorer, – The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards

Related Posts

• Pennys Lane, Wilton

Nearby roads

• Ramleaze Drive SP2
• Sheen Close SP2
• Shropshire Close SP2

Footnotes

1. Grace | Define Grace at Dictionary.com [↩]
2. BBC – History – British History in depth: The Business of Enslavement [↩]
3. Historical Significance [↩]
4. It was within a year of Newton’s appearance before the Privy Council that the slave trader James Penny, who is still honoured in Liverpool with the road name ‘Penny Lane’, told Parliament that
   

   If the Weather is sultry, and there appears the least Perspiration upon their [the slaves'] Skins, when they come upon Deck, there are Two Men attending with cloths to rub them perfectly dry, and another to give them a little Cordial

   ” … THEY ARE AMUSED with Instruments of Music peculiar to their own Country, with which he provided them; and when tired of Music and Dancing, they then go to Games of Chance — The Women are supplied with Beads, which they make into Ornaments; and the utmost Attention is paid to the keeping up their Spirits, and to indulge them in all their little Humours.”[Extract quoted at Beneath the blue suburban skies - Los Angeles Times]

   [↩]

5. John newton [↩]
6. Amazon Search for Amazing Grace [↩]
7. Quoted in ‘1000 UK Number One Hits ‘, Jon Kutner, Spencer Leigh [↩]
8. everyHit.com search results [↩]
9. Quoted in ‘1000 UK Number One Hits ‘, Jon Kutner, Spencer Leigh [↩]
10. What’s up with Amazing Grace – Page 5 – Bob Dunsire Bagpipe Forums [↩]
11. Recording Sessions 1970s [↩]
12. Quoted in ‘Amazing Grace: John Newton, Slavery and the World’s Most Enduring Song’, Steve Turner, page 161 [↩]
13. Amazing Grace – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [↩]
14. Aretha Franklin – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [↩]
15. Amazing Grace – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [↩]
16. Katherine Jenkins – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [↩]
17. Silkwood (1983) – Soundtracks [↩]
18. It’s not however in the Desert Island ‘Top 20′. The 20th most popular choice is ‘Nessun Dorma’ (see BBC News | TV AND RADIO | Beethoven tops island hit list), which was chosen by 36 people (BBC – Desert Island Discs – Find a castaway : Music choice “Nessun dorma”). as one of their eight Desert Island DiscsDesert Island Discs is a long running BBC Radio programme in which the celebrity ‘victim’ has to choose the eight records they would take if marooned on a desert island [↩]