By Michaela Gordoni
Christian singer Phil Wickham is sharing the story behind one of his biggest songs, “This is Amazing Grace.”
“Me and a buddy started, like, years earlier, and we wrote the chorus, and I forgot about it, and two years later I got a demo from Jeremy Riddle saying, ‘Hey, I got this demo. I think it’s you singing,'” Wickham recalled on a podcast with Sadie Robertson Huff. “We really like the chorus, and I added these verses, and we’re recording a Bethel worship record tomorrow. Can we put it on?’ I was like, ‘Dude, I don’t remember this song, but go for it’.”
Bethel recorded the song, and Wickham tried to sing it like Riddle did but couldn’t. Riddle’s version had a more contemplative and moody tone. Eventually, Wickham turned it into the upbeat anthem that we all know today.
“And then all of a sudden it was like, oh, it’s translated into 16 languages and like, it is crazy,” he told Huff.
Wickham released “This is Amazing Grace” in 2013. Some of its lyrics are: “Who shakes the whole earth with holy thunder / And leaves us breathless, in awe and wonder? / The King of Glory / The King above all kings / This is amazing grace / This is unfailing love / That You would take my place”
He previously told News Release Today, “What he [Riddle] did with it was so great, and ever since, I’ve been leading the song in its current form at my home church. I recorded it because I wanted to include the song on my album…I’m just so happy to have been part of the writing of the song.”
Wickham took inspiration from 2 Corinthians 6:18 and Revelation 5:11-13. The first tells of how believers are children of God, and the second verse speaks praises to God.
Related: Brandon Lake, Phil Wickham Release a ‘Modern Hymn’
Phil Wickham says the song is all about God’s goodness and grace — which we don’t deserve.
“The song is simply about the amazing grace and unfailing love that this God, this King of glory, this King above all Kings, has shown to us,” he explained. “The verses are all about His majesty and what He has done, how He spoke the world into existence, how He brings order to our chaos, how He has made orphans and sinners His sons and daughters! By taking our place on the Cross, He bore our sin and went to the grave so that we may be set free, so that we may be forgiven.”
It’s a great song with an even greater meaning — it’s no wonder why it won the BMI Christian Awards “Song of the Year” and an RIAA Gold certification for sales and streams.
Read Next: Phil Wickham Encourages Us To Trust In God: ‘He Has Plans And A Future For Us’
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