Because I am always singing the first stanza of this song whilst wishing I knew the rest, here are the lyrics to "Amazing Grace," composed by John Newton for "Olney Hymns" (a hymnal written for weekly prayer meetings conducted in Olney, Buckinghamshire, where Newton once served as a minister):
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.
Throughout the years, other writers have added additional verses (perhaps drawing on verses from Newton's other hymns) -- thus the wide variation that can be found in the lyrics to this perenially popular hymn. However, these are the original six stanzas that appeared, with minor spelling variations, in both the first edition of "Olney Hymns," published in 1779, and the 1808 edition, the one nearest the date of Newton’s death.
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