“燈塔”改編自19世纪美国圣歌《The Golden Rule》，，最早的曲谱记载于1881年纽约的一本教科书《Franklin Square Song Collection》，曲作者不可考，《The Golden Rule》的旋律也可能是来源于欧洲民谣（比如苏格兰民谣《The Rose of Allendale》就跟它有点相似），由19世纪的新教徒移民带到美国后加以改编。赞美诗的词作者是“I. J. Zimmerman”，这首歌19世纪末明治年间先流传到了日本，随后再流传到了韩国。韩国女歌手西门卓曾经唱过韩语版《灯塔守护人》，經梁芒重新填詞後，由黃綺珊演唱。最初在2014年黃綺珊的個人演唱會由黃綺珊首唱，並成為此歌中文版原唱。
原版平緩抒情，改編恢弘大氣，很具特色。
去世之前，他为自己写了墓志铭：“约翰牛顿牧师，从前是个犯罪作恶不信上帝的人，曾在非洲作奴隶之仆。但借着主耶稣基督的丰盛怜悯，得蒙保守，与神和好，罪得赦免，并蒙指派宣传福音事工。”这首诗歌就是他一生得拯救的见证。
词：John Newton (1725-1807)/J P Rees(b 1859)
曲：Traditional American melody
Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)
That sav'd a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now I am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev'd;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believ'd!
Thro' many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promis'd good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.
Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who call'd me here below,
Will be forever mine.
另一现代版本有此段:
When we've been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun
(例:英国Susan Boyle 音乐专辑《I dreamed a dream》内的版本)
