Categories: 31-songs-in-may
Tags: music, Bromyard, Fred Jordan
Date: 23 May 2003 02:19:00
May 22nd: Amazing Grace.
Another short one today, I'll get round to a couple of long ones before the month's out - promise! Anyway, today's song was written by John Newton (who also wrote 'How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds'). There is a reason I'm choosing a God song today - I'll mention more later. I think I should mention Fred Jordan here though. I'm very glad to have heard Fred, one of the true voices of 'proper' folk music. I grew up going to Bromyard festival, and Fred really was Bromyard for so many people that last year, the first since he died seemed very odd. He would always sing the last song, and I remember him choosing to sing 'Amazing Grace' either as the final song, or one very near the end; "And we won't be singing them last two verses, they were added on later - I've seen the original manuscript!" He probably had too, but it didn't matter, everyone sang all but the last two verses (which were added later, I've checked). No instruments, just voices. A great sound. I'll probably write more about Bromyard later, but that one memory of the festival stands out above all of the others for me. Having said that, to look at the song independently, it is that last verse that stands out for me, and makes the song great. I feel some more sunshine songs coming out before the end of the month too...