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Grace Will Lead Me Home

by Angeline, Cohen & Jon

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  • Streaming + Download

    Pre-order of Grace Will Lead Me Home. You get 1 track now (streaming via the free Bandcamp app and also available as a high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more), plus the complete album the moment it’s released.
    Purchasable with gift card
    releases May 3, 2024

      £7 GBP  or more

     

  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Angeline Morrison (The Sorrow Songs), Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne (Granny's Attic) and Jon Bickley (The Invisible Folk Club) came together to create a new album marking the 250th anniversary of the writing of Amazing Grace (2023) and the 300th anniversary of the birth of its writer John Newton (2025).

    Includes digital pre-order of Grace Will Lead Me Home. You get 1 track now (streaming via the free Bandcamp app and also available as a high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more), plus the complete album the moment it’s released.
    digital album releases May 3, 2024
    item ships out within 5 days

      £10 GBP or more 

     

1.
Dear Polly 02:58
lyrics
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Oh Polly, my Polly your whispering voice fills my heart, Through long separation I conjure you when we're apart In mumbling coaches I chatter with strangers for days But what a man needs is his hearth and his chair and his wife's tender ways Dear Polly, my Polly Dear Polly, my Polly my love I send to thee while I'm far away from thee. Oh Johnny my Johnny the sight of you changed me quite When first I beheld you at my parents' house that dark night So young and so shy all I wanted to do was to hide So I waited and waited and waited for you for to be your bride Dear Johnny, my Johnny Dear Johnny, my Johnny These words I send to you when you're far away from me. Oh Polly my Polly there's something so close in what you write So pertinent dearest I see that you walk in the light It fills me with joy when I read that you watch and you pray May the good Lord keep you safe while I'm away Dear Polly, my Polly Dear Polly, my Polly my love I send to thee while I'm far away from thee. Dear Johnny, my Johnny Dear Johnny, my Johnny These words I send to you when you're far away from me.
2.
Press Gang Song
3.
Grace will lead me home
4.
Turn Round Newton
5.
The President Sang Amazing Grace
6.
Fantasia on a West Indian Burial Theme
7.
I'm going to hear John Newton Preach
8.
The choir still sings Amazing Grace
9.
Sorry
10.
Amazing Grace (Jesu Thy Words)
11.
Eyes on the prize
12.
Amazing Grace

about

Angeline Morrison (The Sorrow Songs), Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne (Granny's Attic) and Jon Bickley (The Invisible Folk Club) came together to create a new album marking the 250th anniversary of the writing of Amazing Grace (2023) and the 300th anniversary of the birth of its writer John Newton (2025).

Jon Bickley headed a partnership between Invisible Folk, the Arts Council and the Cowper & Newton Museum in a project entitled 'Grace will lead me home.' It explored the love that people have for Amazing Grace including those who are descended from the slaves that Newton shipped across the Atlantic. Interviews covering every aspect of Newton's life, the slave trade and the evolution of the beloved hymn was undertaken (including Judy Collins) and these can be found in a series of podcasts invisiblefolk.com/grace-will-lead-me-home

Cohen and Angeline were invited to join the project, review the research, meet the folks at the museum and write new songs. Cohen had written 'Black Singers and Ballads' www.efdss.org/learning/resources/a-z/10482-black-singers-resource-output# and played on the Reg Meuross project 'Stolen from God.' Angeline had released 'The Brown Girl and Other Folk Songs' and 'The Sorrow Songs' to considerable acclaim. Both artists brought the weight of their study as well as considerable artistic talents to the project.

One of the first things the group did upon first meeting was to respond to a request from the museum. The tune we have come to associate with 'Amazing Grace' is called 'New Britain' but it did not become associated with the song until 70 years after the words were written. In the meantime, it had many tunes, one of which was 'Jesu thy word is my delight.' The live recording on the album is the band singing that arrangement on the morning after the request from the museum. They also recorded 'Eyes on the Prize' and the more familiar version of Amazing Grace on that first meeting. Angeline also sang a beautiful version of Zoe Mulford's song 'The President sang Amazing Grace.'

Three months later the group reassembled to record and perform the new songs. Angeline brought 'Turn round Newton' a song about Newton's relationship with William Cowper and 'Grace will lead me home' which she performed with a children's choir in the courtyard of the Cowper & Newton Museum. These songs have echoes of Doo-wop and other music of the Afro Caribbean diaspora. She also brought 'Dear Polly' a song taken from Newton's copious letters to his wife.

Cohen brought the profound and arresting 'Press Gang Song.' This song gradually reveals the everyday acceptance of the violence and brutality of the transatlantic slave trade and is delivered with Cohen's trademark intensity. He also brought 'Fantasia on a West Indian Burial Theme' a new composition which includes a melody that would have been played at the funerals of slaves. Cohen's musical influence on the project was so strong that after the first day Jon referred to him as 'Maestro.'

Jon's contribution to the project is 'I'm going to hear John Newton preach' which traces Newton's life from slave trader to conversion to preacher to abolitionist. 'The choir still sings Amazing Grace' is an imaginative panorama of different places 'Amazing Grace' pops up. He also wrote 'Sorry' an impatient demand that today's leaders should own their countries’ past so that we can move towards reparation and healing and that starts by saying Sorry.

credits

releases May 3, 2024

Vocals & Guitar: Jon Bickley
Vocals & Autoharp: Angeline Morrison
Vocals & Anglo Concertina: Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne
Bass Guitar: Bill Nimmo
Drums & Percussion: Dave Bickley

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Angeline, Cohen & Jon UK

Angeline Morrison (The Sorrow Songs), Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne (Granny's Attic) and Jon Bickley (Invisible Folk Club) came together to create a new album marking the 250th anniversary of the writing of Amazing Grace (2023)

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