The President Sang Amazing Grace sung by Joan Baez

[irisblue]

Written by Zoe Mulford


The video was posted by The Atlantic on March 27 2018.

"I was driving when I heard ‘The President Sang Amazing Grace,’” Joan Baez told The Atlantic, “and I had to pull over to make sure I heard whose song it was because I knew I had to sing it.” The 77-year-old folk legend included the song in her final album, Whistle Down The Wind, released in early March. Originally written and performed by Zoe Mulford following the 2015 mass shooting in a historic black church in Charleston, South Carolina, Baez’s rendition of “The President Sang Amazing Grace” has been animated in a powerful new video by Jeff Scher, premiering on The Atlantic today.


“[When Barack] Obama sang ‘Amazing Grace’ at the service for the Charleston Church shooting victims, it was deeply moving,” Scher told The Atlantic. “Somehow Obama, with his humble singing voice, turned grief into grace. With humility, compassion, and a two-hundred-year-old hymn, he made us feel that the evil deeds of a sick individual could not shake the bonds of our common humanity.” For Scher, Obama’s performance expressed the emotions of “what it was like to be an American on that day— to have a great leader lift us up from despair.”


I heard it for the first time yesterday through sheer grace.

[yardwork]

1. Sometimes there are no words.

[hedda_foil]

2. ..😪

[lostnfound]

3. President had Amazing Grace. Genuine love in his big heart.

It is a blessing to have a good and compassionate person be leader of the country.

[lark]

7. How far we have fallen.

From president of intelligence and grace and profound caring for all the people in this country, to a stone racist killer who is crazy mean, arrogant and ignorant & only cares for himself and his money.

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

20. +1

Such a great man.

[CharleyDog]

32. His evidence of greatness will only increase over time as the comparisons and truth of his work as

President are written in history. Dumbo and President Obama both face(d) the same global problems, and one person only worked at solving problems and respecting lives

[peacebuzzard]

39. I think you are spot on with this, CharleyDog. (How I miss President Obama.)n/t

[lillypaddle]

4. Incredible

[Rorey]

5. Ok, ok. I admit it.

I've got some tears.

This was very touching and thank you SO much for putting it up. I hadn't heard it.

[Roy Rolling]

6. A Classic

It demonstrates how much Obama bonded with those who relied upon him for strength and leadership. He was always "in the moment", always.

Contrasted with a president whose inner thoughts are always about himself, and how he's a winner over those who expect him to fulfill the job he was hired to perform: public servant.

[calimary]

9. The contrast is staggering.

[CharleyDog]

33. when people say to me they don't understand the popularity of Obama, I look at them like they must

have been under a rock or brainwashed by enemies of our country...

[Rorey]

11. Well said.

Maybe someday we'll have the kind of leadership that President Obama gave to us.

[TNNurse]

8. I love this so much

and could listen to it every day. Maybe I will, that is a pretty good New Years Resolution.

[Rorey]

10. And then I cried again when listening to Zoe Mulford's recording

As much as I love Joan Baez, I think I like the original version more.

Or maybe both the same. Joan Baez can do no wrong.

[irisblue]

13. When My President is done speaking, turn off the next video quick

Luke Russert disgorges

[irisblue]

14. My President giving the eulogy and singing Amazing Grace

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

21. +1

[Gothmog]

25. Thank you for posting this

[peacebuzzard]

40. Beautiful President Obama sings

inspiration and tears

[saidsimplesimon]

15. "How I long for yesterday."

"All my troubles seemed so far away."

Time off the battlefield until the next Congress begins.

Here's hoping the Don is challenging indictments of a sitting President next year.

[WeekiWater]

16. Rev. Clementa Pinckney

Amazing Grace

[aikoaiko]

17. A beautifully written song and a great tribute to our finest president.

[volstork]

18. Astounding.

Joan Baez's voice has grown so rich over the years, and adds a deep beauty to this song. The animation is simply gorgeous.

Thank you for sharing this. I will treasure it.

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

19. Made me cry then, and now.

Such a humble and thoughtful moment. I had almost forgot. Thanks for the video.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

22. He is a great leader. 💙

[burrowowl]

23. K&R!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Gothmog]

24. I miss having a real POTUS

This song brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for posting it

[yellowwoodII]

26. Heard this on NPR yesterday

Joan Baez was a guest on NPR yesterday

Fantastic!

[Nitram]

27. Absolutely beautiful! Thank you for sharing.

I wouldn't have recognized Joan's voice. I've never heard her sing with such restraint and gravitas. Very moving.

[irisblue]

28. Kicking

[PatrickforO]

29. The last line...

My president sang Amazing Grace.

Wow.

[Silver Gaia]

30. Beautiful.

Tears.

[Grammy23]

31. Simply beautiful.

A classic.

[CharleyDog]

34. I see it now, Obama really did represent hope

even though I fight and resist, I have lost so much hope. Our environment, mass species extinction, surging hatreds - all these will be almost impossible to contain now that they have been enabled

[littlemissmartypants]

35. I'm hoping that at some point in 2019

I'll be able to stop crying. Everything just seems to break my heart and make me cry. Thanks for sharing this, irisblue. ♡

[Sugarcoated]

45. Same here, my heart is breaking

[littlemissmartypants]

46. How are you doing, Sugarcoated?

I just wanted to check on you and say, hi. Lots of crying today, for me. I hope you had a better day. Thank you for your reply. It means a lot. ♡

[Sugarcoated]

47. Hey, littlemisssmartypants

I'm so sorry you're feeling the way you do but I know what you're going through, it's like we're in a war getting pummeled with shocking horrific information bullets. I'm getting by but odds are something in the news will remind me how we are destroying ourselves, the planet and it's beautiful creatures. Every day it's something. Feeling sad every day is the new normal for me. The animals...just the thought of what is happening to them. I wish I could do more than call legislators and cry.

[Sugarcoated]

36. I know Zoe!

She occasionally comes to our songwriting group...beautiful talented genuine person and I'm so thrilled for her success!

[irisblue]

41. I hope she keeps on writing and singing

I can totally understand why Baez pulled off road to listen to the song.

[Sugarcoated]

44. She definitely is

she's playing in the Philly area this Sunday.

[Sugarcoated]

37. The original by Zoe

[Brother Buzz]

38. Zoe Mulford's a cappella version is incredibility strong

[irisblue]

42. The 'Irish lilt' in her voice is as affecting as Baez carmel deeper tones

I hope she keeps making art.

[Sugarcoated]

43. Yes, agree, lovely

She was at the songwriting group in November and played a new song for critique, a song about birds and it really was excellent.