The true joy and passion of both songs are expressed in this great live performance.

Blind Boys of Alabama – “Amazing Grace”

“Amazing Grace” (2016 / 1773 … ya, 1773!)

In this excellent live mash-up, the Blind Boys of Alabama blend together 2 great and well-known songs –  “Amazing Grace”  and “House of the Rising Sun” – almost perfectly.  

Beyond Belief

The centuries-old Christian hymn “Amazing Grace”  is one of the most popular and instantly recognizable songs around the world. Its message of forgiveness and redemption resonates beyond any and all creeds or church walls. And it also features some beautiful, calming music.

The traditional folk song “House of the Rising Sun”  tells the tale of a “gamblin’ man”  father and his wayward son, both of whom are in dire need of some forgiveness and redemption. 

Believable Joy and Passion

Back in 2001, the Blind Boys produced a studio mash-up of these 2 songs for their album “Spirit of the Century.”  While the lyrics are taken straight from the hymn, the blending of the 2 songs gives us music that is greater than the sum of its parts.   

And of course, as with most gospel music, it is in a live performance that the true joy and passion of those songs are expressed.    _{(Image source)}

Blind Boys of Alabama

The Blind Boys of Alabama is a US gospel-music group that has been playing together since 1939. While its line-up has changed over the years, they continue to produce an eclectic and uplifiting mix of gospel, soul, and blues. 

Joyful Boys

The group began as a school chorus group in 1939, when most of the members were still below 10 years of age. Their first professional performance was in 1944, and they created their first recording in 1948. 

They do not consider their blindness a handicap. As current drummer Ricky McKinnie said, “It’s not about what you can’t do. It’s about what you do.”  And what the Blind Boys of Alabama do is create a lifetime’s worth of great music.   

Over the course of their 8-decade existence, the band has released dozens of albums. It has won 6 Grammies, including a “Lifetime Achievement Award”  in 2009. It has also won and been nominated for numerous other awards.   _{(Image source)}

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved 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 relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now am found
Was blind, but now I see

When we've been there 10,000 years
Bright shining as the sun
We have no less days just to sing God's praise
Than when we first begun

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now am found
Was blind, but now I see   _{(Image source)}
Lyrics by John Newton, courtesy of – AZLyrics.com
Reference – Wikipedia
Reference – Wikipedia

Into your ears … through 5 channels

 The various posts are categorized into 5 channels _{(Right-Click to see details)}
         1 – “Music to Your Ears” (MTYE)
         2 – “Cover Versions”
         3 – “Honor Roll”
         4 – “Documentaries”
         5 – “Mock’n’Roll”

More “Music to Your Ears” ...

          Previous posts in this series – "MTYE posts 1–20"
          Previous posts in this series – "MTYE posts 21–40"

Links to my other series ...

          Lou Reed – "Anthology of Memorable Lyrics, Part 1"
          Lou Reed – "Anthology of Memorable Lyrics, Part 2"

          Great Lyrics, a compilation – “Part One – My Lyrics Posts 3~30”
          Great Lyrics, a compilation – “Part Two – My Lyrics Posts 31~60”  

          Vocab-Ability – "Introduction to Vocab-Ability"  
          Vocab-Ability – "Index"  to all Chapters and Sections  

          Notes from Under the Tatami Mats – "Part One – Notes 1~50"  
          Notes from Under the Tatami Mats – "Part Two – Notes 51~87"