Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) – English Lyrics

• By: Pentatonix
• Album: The Greatest Christmas Hits

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the beauty and emotional depth of "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)" as performed by Pentatonix. This a cappella masterpiece showcases the group's exceptional vocal talents and offers a moving experience that explores themes of faith, freedom, and the transformative power of grace. Explore English language and music through the lens of this powerful song.

[English]

♪ 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 ♪

♪ 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear ♪

♪ And grace my fears relieved ♪

♪ How precious did that grace appear ♪

♪ The hour I first believed ♪

♪ My chains are gone I've been set free ♪

♪ My God, my Savior has ransomed me ♪

♪ And like a flood His mercy rains ♪

♪ Unending love, Amazing grace ♪

♪ The Lord has promised good to me ♪

♪ His word my hope secures ♪

♪ He will my shield and portion be ♪

♪ As long as life endures ♪

♪ My chains are gone I've been set free ♪

♪ My God, my Savior has ransomed me ♪

♪ And like a flood His mercy rains ♪

♪ Unending love, Amazing grace ♪

♪ The Earth shall soon dissolve like snow ♪

♪ The sun forbear to shine ♪

♪ But God, Who called me here below ♪

♪ Will be forever mine ♪

♪ My chains are gone I've been set free ♪

♪ My God, my Savior has ransomed me ♪

♪ And like a flood His mercy rains ♪

♪ Unending love, Amazing grace ♪

♪ I once was lost, but now I'm found ♪

♪ Was blind, but now I see ♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
amazing /əˈmeɪzɪŋ/ A1	adjective - causing great wonder; surprising.
grace /ɡreɪs/ B1	noun - (in Christian belief) the free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowing of blessings. noun - elegant and controlled movement or behavior.
sweet /swiːt/ A1	adjective - having the pleasant taste characteristic of sugar or honey; (of a sound) pleasant and melodious.
wretch /rɛtʃ/ B2	noun - an unfortunate or unhappy person; a person who is despised or pitied.
lost /lɒst/ A1	adjective - unable to find one's way; no longer possessed or found. verb - to no longer have something or someone; to fail to win (past participle of lose).
found /faʊnd/ A1	verb - to discover or perceive after a search; to come upon something or someone unexpectedly (past participle of find). adjective - discovered by chance or unexpectedly.
blind /blaɪnd/ A1	adjective - unable to see. verb - to make unable to see.
fear /fɪər/ A2	noun - an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat. verb - to be afraid of (someone or something) as likely to be dangerous, painful, or threatening.
relieved /rɪˈliːvd/ B1	adjective - no longer feeling distressed or anxious; reassured. verb - to cause (pain, distress, or a problem) to become less severe or serious (past participle of relieve).
precious /ˈprɛʃəs/ B1	adjective - of great value; not to be wasted or treated carelessly; much loved or cherished.
chains /tʃeɪnz/ A2	noun - a series of connected metal links used for fastening or securing, or as an ornament. (often metaphorical for bondage or restriction).
free /friː/ A1	adjective - not under the control or in the power of another; able to act or be done as one wishes. verb - to release from captivity, confinement, or slavery.
savior /ˈseɪvjər/ B2	noun - a person who saves someone or something (especially in a religious context, Jesus Christ).
ransomed /ˈrænsəmd/ C1	verb - to pay money for the release of (a prisoner); (in Christian theology) to redeem (humanity) by paying a price (past participle of ransom).
flood /flʌd/ B1	noun - an overflow of a large amount of water beyond its normal limits, especially over what is normally dry land; a very large quantity of something. verb - to overwhelm with a large amount of water; to arrive in overwhelming numbers or quantities.
mercy /ˈmɜːrsi/ B2	noun - compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm; a benevolent act.
unending /ʌnˈɛndɪŋ/ B2	adjective - having no end or conclusion; continuous.
hope /həʊp/ A1	noun - a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. verb - to want something to happen or be true, and usually have a good reason to think that it might.
endures /ɪnˈdjʊərz/ B2	verb - to suffer (something painful or difficult) patiently; to remain in existence; last (present simple of endure).
dissolve /dɪˈzɒlv/ B1	verb - (with reference to a solid) become or cause to become incorporated into a liquid so as to form a solution; (of a feeling or phenomenon) disappear.

Key Grammar Structures

• That saved a wretch like me

  ➔ Relative Clause

  ➔ "That" introduces a relative clause modifying "grace", describing which grace saved the speaker

• I once was lost, but now I'm found

  ➔ Contrast with 'but'

  ➔ "But" contrasts two opposing states: past ("was lost") vs present ("am found")

• Was blind, but now I see

  ➔ Ellipsis (Subject omission)

  ➔ Subject "I" is omitted before "was blind" for poetic effect (full form: "I was blind")

• 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear

  ➔ Cleft Sentence

  ➔ Cleft structure "'Twas...that" emphasizes "grace" as the agent (archaic form of "It was grace that...")

• My chains are gone

  ➔ Stative Passive

  ➔ "Are gone" describes a current state (not action) where chains no longer exist

• I've been set free

  ➔ Present Perfect Passive

  ➔ Passive construction "been set" emphasizes the result of an action (by God) with present relevance

• His mercy rains

  ➔ Metaphorical Verb

  ➔ "Rains" is used metaphorically (not literally) to describe abundant mercy falling like rain

• He will my shield and portion be

  ➔ Inverted Word Order

  ➔ Poetic inversion places "be" at the end (standard order: "He will be my shield and portion")

• The Earth shall soon dissolve like snow

  ➔ Simile with 'like'

  ➔ "Like snow" creates a simile comparing Earth's impermanence to melting snow

• Who called me here below

  ➔ Relative Pronoun

  ➔ "Who" refers back to "God" and introduces defining information about God's action