|
Who Will Sing Amazing Grace
On New Years Day, January 1, 1773
John Newton was leading worship with his congregation in Olney.
Though it was a Friday, every woman and man
Gathered to praise God as a new year began.
His sermon was on First Chronicles, chapter 17,
A prayer of King David, and what it could mean
To us who were working hard, and struggling to get by.
Then he said, “I have a new song I’d like you to try.”
“Who will sing Amazing Grace?
Who will sing this new song I wrote yesterday?
The words were inspired by this scripture today.
Who will sing Amazing Grace?”
And they said:
This song has too many verses, couldn’t we sing just the first and last?
The melody is too slow, and the harmonies change too fast.
I know the Bible says ‘sing a new song,’ that’s how the Psalms go,
But couldn’t we sing a new song that we already know?
I remember the old days, when we could sing the songs we’d choose,
And we had a lot more people here, not so many empty pews.
Now you show up each Sunday with your strange compositions,
And apparently have no respect for our treasured customs and traditions.
“Who will sing Amazing Grace?
Who will sing this new song I wrote yesterday?
The words were inspired by this scripture today.
Who will sing Amazing Grace?”
Your song is just too tedious, there’s nowhere to breathe, no place to swallow.
The words just keep confusing us, they’re way too hard to follow.
The imagery is morbid, the syntax is a stretch,
And I don’t like singing any song that refers to me as a ‘wretch.’
Your theology is too Calvinistic,
Your poetry is cliché-ridden and simplistic,
Your description of humankind is pessimistic,
Your view of the future is fatalistic,
Your choice of pronouns is chauvinistic
Your portrayal of grace is inappropriately mystic,
Your description of salvation is not realistic,
Your presentation of this song seems egotistic.
We’re not being rude, it’s just that we’ve never done it this way before,
And of course there is one other thing that we’ve been pretending to ignore:
Your lifestyle as a slave trader; you lived that way so long.
Of course, God can forgive you, but do we have to sing your song?
Our Committee of Gossip and our Grumbling Team
Have compiled a list of songs, that they think seem
Appropriate for worship, so you no longer have to search.
You don’t need to thank us, we’re just a naturally friendly church.
“Who will sing Amazing Grace?
Who will sing this new song I wrote yesterday?
The words were inspired by this scripture today.
Who will sing Amazing Grace?”
Who will sing Amazing Grace?”
(c) 2007 David Golden
|
