Pretty Amazing Grace

Much to my surprise, American Idol has helped to broaden my musical horizons yet again. The only Neil Diamond song I'd heard before this was You Don't Bring Me Flowers, a duet with Barbara Streisand. This is a rather different song.

Pretty amazing grace is what you showed me
Pretty amazing grace is who you are
I was an empty vessel
You filled me up inside
and with amazing grace restored my pride

Pretty amazing grace is how you saved me
and with amazing grace reclaimed my heart
Love in the midst of chaos
Calm in the heat of war
Showed with amazing grace what love was for

You forgave my insensitivity
and my attempt to then mislead you
You stood beside a wretch like me
Your pretty amazing grace was all I needed

Stumbled inside the doorway of your chapel
Humbled and awed by everything I found
Beauty and love surround me
Freed me from what I fear
Ask for amazing grace and you appear

You overcame my loss of hope and faith
Gave me a truth I could belive in
You led me to a higher place
Showed me that love and truth and hope and grace
were all I needed

Shout to the Lord

I must confess that I was rather surprised when they performed this on American Idol, even if it was part of Idol Gives Back. I'm not quite sure why those chose to include it (I thought they'd go with one of the secular "We Are the World" -type songs), but hey, no complaints from me. I love this song and they sung it well.

My Jesus, my Saviour, Lord, there is none like You;
All of my days I want to praise the wonders of Your mighty love.
My comfort, my shelter, tower of refuge and strength;
Let every breath, all that I am, never cease to worship You.

Shout to the Lord, all the earth, let us sing
Power and Majesty, praise to the King;
Mountains bow down and the seas will roar
At the sound of Your name.
I sing for joy at the work of your hands,
Forever I'll love You, forever I'll stand
Nothing compares to the promise I have in You.

Jesus and Gravity

Dolly Parton tells it like it is.

(Ok, ok, I confess. I've been watching American Idol. But clearly everything happens for a reason. How else would I have discovered the wonderful music - and wit - of Dolly Parton? ;P )

I'm to the point where it don't add up
I can't say I've come this far with my guitar on pure dumb luck
That's not to say I know it all 'cause every time
I get too high up on my horse I fall

'Cause I've got somethin' lifting me up
Somethin' holdin' me down
Somethin' to give me wings and keep my feet on the ground
I've got all I need, I've got Jesus and gravity

But I'm as bad as anyone
takin' all these blessings in my life for granted one by one
When I start to thinkin' it's all me, well
somethin' comes along and knocks me right back on my knees

And I've got somethin' lifting me up
Somethin' holding me down
Somethin' to give me wings and keep my feet on the ground
I've got all I need, I've got Jesus and gravity

He's my friend, He's my light
He's my wings, He is my flight

And I've got somethin' lifting me up
Somethin' holding me down
Somethin' to give me wings and keep my feet on the ground
I've got all I'm gonna need
I've got Jesus, I've got Jesus

Jesus, I've got Jesus, I've got Jesus
He's my everything. He lifts me up, He gives me wings
He gives me hope and He gives me strength
and that's all I'll ever need as long as he keeps lifting me
As long as He keeps lifting me