Amazing Grace was written by a (former) captain of a slave ship. Some say the melody was one he heard the slaves humming as they crossed. For more info: The Story of John Newton.
As for me, I have two favorite "stories" about Amazing Grace:
One is mine and really isn't that funny anymore: When I first saw Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan in the theater, I laughed when Scottie started playing Amazing Grace on the bagpipes at a Vulcan funeral...
The other is my wife's: She grew up singing and playing the piano in church. Her parents did a lot of visitation to the sick and elderly. Once, when she was an early teenager, they were visiting a woman who was like 104 years old. Mrs. Stormhands sang Amazing Grace. The woman said up and said "Oh my, that takes me back a hundred years..." which of course, for her, it did.
My Grandma Grace was the Godliest woman I've ever known...taught Sunday school for nigh 'on 60 years...At her funeral, they played Amazing Grace...she sure was, and yes it is...I still choke up when I hear it...
"Oh my, that takes me back a hundred years..." which of course, for her, it did.
That's really great. Thanks for the input, you all.
Also, I'm e-mailing my brother and his wife about Scotty, that's very humerous.
I also was interested in the melody, which, I think, really makes the hymn. A Google search didn't turn up much on that, except the fact that there's some confusion about where it came from. I sort of think the tune has some African elements in it, it kind of has that "gospel" sound, which is definitely southern and African influenced by way of slaves (IMHO).
'Course I can't begin to carry a tune, so personal theories such as that are bound to be flawed.
Corin, I guess that means that Mrs. Stormhands has a singing voice, which is nice.
I've also always loved Danny Boy, that you guys were talking about, another hauntingly beautiful and touching tune.