It does go on and on and on and on, doesn't it. Seems like it never ends. And I am sitting there as though I am deaf. Not singing at all.
I like it more for its historical nature and the change that it, the Grace, brought about in the author's life than I do particularly the song itself. But the hymn is about the Grace of God saving an individual from certain torment, who then desires to live in a virtuous way and to do works. What is wrong with that? Does it sound Calvinistic to you? Because that's not what I get from it at all.
Oh -- that's another problem -- music directors that don't push the music along. It's a lack of leadership. The congregation WILL slow down, it's the organist and the choir's job to keep pushing it ahead. My piskie director was a jerk but he was great at keeping it going. My current one is a great guy, but he's a keyboardist not a singer, and he does like to go slow. It's not stately, it's deadly.
Every verse and phrase of AMAZING GRACE IS PRECIOUS, TO ME.