The earth shall soon dissolve like snow, The sun forbear to shine; But God, who called me here below, Will be forever mine. Impact and Legacy
My chains are gone, I've been set free My God, my Savior has ransomed me And like a flood His mercy reigns Unending love, Amazing grace
A key musical shift in this version is the change from a traditional 3/4 waltz feel to a contemporary 4/4 time signature, making it more accessible for modern congregational worship. Restoring the Original Lyrics
You can find the track for streaming and official purchase on Spotify , Apple Music, and Amazon Music. Background and Composition
Since its release, the song has become a staple in modern worship services and is consistently ranked among the top songs in church copy activity reports by CCLI. Its blend of historic theology with modern musicality has led to numerous covers by artists like and Alan Jackson . Deb Millshttps://debmillswriter.com
Tomlin was initially hesitant to alter such a sacred hymn, stating, "No, you don't mess with that". However, after reflecting on the song's themes of freedom from slavery—both physical and spiritual—he and wrote the signature chorus:
The song is a contemporary reimagining of the 18th-century hymn by John Newton. Released on Chris Tomlin 's 2006 album See the Morning , it was commissioned for the film Amazing Grace , which follows the life of abolitionist William Wilberforce.
While the chorus is new, Tomlin actually restored Newton's original final verse, which had been replaced over time by the more famous "When we've been there ten thousand years". The restored original verse reads: