Grace

About

Grace, written by Robbie Williams and Guy Chambers, was recorded during sessions for I've Been Expecting You in Jamaica in 1998. Initially described by Williams as a lighthearted piece inspired by Frank Sinatra and the bossa nova classic The Girl from Ipanema, the song was later revealed to have a more personal and painful origin. It was written for Williams’ then-partner Nicole Appleton and their unborn child, whom Appleton was pressured to abort by her management. Williams later acknowledged the song as an expression of love and loss from that period.

The song’s gentle rhythm, soft percussion and melodic strings give it a wistful, almost tropical atmosphere, contrasting with its emotional weight. Lyrically, it combines spiritual imagery with themes of redemption and forgiveness, as heard in the lines “Grace, I’m not yet born, come embrace a soul that’s torn.” Its delicate arrangement and layered harmonies make it one of the album’s most understated and poignant tracks.

I was in Jamaica listening to a lot of Sinatra. I said to Nikki I’d write her a song. I picked a card and it said Grace — so that’s what I called it.Robbie Williams

A video for Grace was filmed during the Jamaican recording sessions and released on the Angels DVD. It shows Williams performing and relaxing in modest surroundings, emphasising the song’s intimacy. Though never a single, Grace is often cited by fans as one of Williams’ most affecting deep cuts, notable for its tenderness and emotional restraint within an otherwise pop-driven album.