I’ve only ever heard the “wretch” version, though as a former church chorister, I well remember the new editions of the hymnbooks and their rewritten lyrics for inclusivity, and the controversy they caused. Both in our choir and in our church. Thankfully, the new hymnbooks kept “wretch” in “Amazing Grace.”
Me, I have no problem with “wretch.” It is a song about personal (not group) redemption, and I find nothing in it that could offend, as with “brother” or “men.” The word “wretch” may not be in common usage, but it is not uncommon either, IMHO. I don’t find it offensive; neither did anybody in our church or our choir.
Just as an aside, there are a few hymns to which verses have been added to reflect the needs of certain groups. The example that comes to me immediately is the Navy Hymn (“Eternal Father, strong to save”) which has a number of extra verses to suit various armed forces. Again, the immediate example is the verse for the air forces, which ends:
“So hear us as we raise our prayer
For those in peril in the air.”
But that’s a whole new verse, not rewriting existing ones or substituting words. Still, I thought it was interesting.
[QUOTE=Baker]
And “wretch” is preferable because it emphasizes how miserable the person singing found themselves before grace saved them.
It’s also singular, and “Amazing Grace” is a song about personal redemption, not about how everyone else was saved as well. Sure, God saved us all, but each person experiences that for themself, not as part of a sort of group hug.
[/QUOTE]
I agree. It echoes Paul’s, “Although I am the worst of sinners..”
I’m going to keep singing it the old way. I was trying to be non-judgemental, but I generally hate it when the words of a hymn are changed from something theologically meaningful, to a sort of lukewarm “Let’s make it more warm and fuzzy!”.
It’s the equivalent of that one bible translation that rendered, “A still, small voice”, as “A low, murmuring hum”, or whatever. It loses poetry and meaning.
[QUOTE=Lissla Lissar]
It was made less ‘offensive’. That has happened to a lot of hymns, although I can’t think of any other titles right now. It even happens to praise choruses. A couple of weeks ago, we sang The Servant Song, and “Brother, let me be your servant”, was changed to, “Will you let me be your servant?”
[/QUOTE]
Brother, sister, let me serve you
I think that such (unauthorised) changes insult the writer, particularly if they are alive.
[QUOTE=Lissla Lissar]
I agree. It echoes Paul’s, “Although I am the worst of sinners..”
I’m going to keep singing it the old way. I was trying to be non-judgemental, but I generally hate it when the words of a hymn are changed from something theologically meaningful, to a sort of lukewarm “Let’s make it more warm and fuzzy!”.
It’s the equivalent of that one bible translation that rendered, “A still, small voice”, as “A low, murmuring hum”, or whatever. It loses poetry and meaning.
Yes, I am a grouch.
[/QUOTE]
I don’t think you are a grouch at all! I never knew the real lyric to this song until I was an adult, as my church always used the “saved and set me free” lyric. I chalk it up to that feel-good warm & fuzzy wave in religion, and I think it really does take away some of the meaning of the song.
I also never understood why my mom would get a little rolly-eyed that they were singing this song in a Catholic church…I didn’t get that there are “Protestant hymns” and “Catholic hymns!”
I’ve heard “that saved and set me free” but thankfully our church sticks with “saved a wretch like me”.
I don’t like inclusive language as a rule, especially if it messes with the poetry of original hymn lyrics. But sometimes I am chagrined to learn that a version I have been singing is in fact an updated one.
