Amazing Grace

Download here: Kat Blue – Amazing Grace

The reason why I did this one is sort of a long story. Growing up, I’d known by association that my family was kin to Patsy Cline in a cousin sort of way. Ever so often my grandmother would get out her Patsy Cline music, listen to it, and lament to me the death of the great Cline in that famous plane crash. If you look at Cline and a photo of my young grandmother, you can even see a slight family resemblance so long as you forget that all people look alike when you get down to it.

Well, okay, it’s definitely a family resemblance… but they were both from the same region and people in the same region tend to do things like resemble one another.  So I dislike the idea of saying “Oh well! She’s just family!” if it’s all the same to you.

There was a story once about how Cline and family lived across the mountain from each other and would visit. This got translated down to Loretta Lynn somehow and my own mother in later years, but when you’re a young child and  your grandmother is your best friend you tend to notice tiny dropped hints. Not much was ever said about Cline personally by my grandmother, just a two sentence lament about how tragic it was that the plane took her life. And how wonderful her music was.

I’m grown now and able to pick up on subtle clues, so I realize my grandmother wanted to talk more… but I never got the hint. I just thought she was a fan lamenting the death of her idol. I’d know what to say now to get her to talk, but she’s not with us anymore. She’s reading a book by the River Cumberland in the afterlife.

There’s a beautiful rendition of Amazing Grace by Lean Rimes that many attribute as Patsy Cline. I was also fooled at first but a good reader pointed out to me the mistake. Rimes’ voice is pure,she sounds close to Cline, the notes are fabulous, and really. I could never sound like that. And if you want an idea of how Cline may have sounded singing it… (text in purple due to fact correction 3-18-2013).

I’ve a cousin who has been digging through the family tree that came to me about the Patsy Cline cousin connection. Well, I knew that, I could only respond. And then I realized – oh. My grandmother wasn’t sad because she was a fan. It was something else.

This got me thinking about the song Amazing Grace, which I’d gotten with someone a few years ago to sing and do but it never panned out. I decided I was going to do it, so four hours of playing with sound and basically learning how to do things later I’ve got this not-so-great-sounding piece for you to have for free.

I did some research and found the original lyrics and chose alternative stanzas no one uses anymore. According to the Wikipedia article, it was written by John Newton and first published in 1779. It’s been one of the most beloved gospel songs ever since.