Lyrics
Verse 1
Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Was blind, but now I see
Verse 2
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed
Chorus
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
Verse 3
The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures
Chorus (x2)
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
Verse 4
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow
The sun forbear to shine
But God, Who called me here below,
Will be forever mine.
Will be forever mine.
You are forever mine.
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Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) Chords
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Meaning & Inspiration
Chris Tomlin's version keeps John Newton's familiar verses while adding a chorus that shifts the focus from personal testimony to declared liberation. The line "My chains are gone" extends the original metaphor of being lost and blind into an image of being freed from captivity. This echoes the biblical theme of redemption, where God ransoms people from bondage, as in Isaiah 61 and the exodus narrative. The chorus's phrase "like a flood His mercy reigns" portrays grace not as a trickle but as overwhelming, active power.
The third verse grounds hope in God's character and promise. "His word my hope secures" speaks to trust in divine faithfulness. The final verse looks toward creation's dissolution, yet affirms that God remains the believer's permanent possession. The shift from "Will be forever mine" to "You are forever mine" personalizes that hope, suggesting a relationship that endures beyond the material world. The song holds together the beginning of faith and its future completion.