Favourite Music

BE THOU MY VISION

Words

1 Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart,
naught be all else to me save that thou art;
thou my best thought in the day and the night,
waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.

2 Be thou my wisdom, be thou my true word,
I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord;
thou my great Father, and I thy true heir;
thou in me dwelling, and I in thy care.

3 Be thou my breast plate, my sword for the fight,
be thou my armour, and be thou my might,
thou my soul=s shelter, and thou my high tower,
raise thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

4 Riches I heed not, nor all the world=s praise,
thou mine inheritance through all my days;
thou, and thou only, the first in my heart,
high King of heaven, my treasure thou art!

5 High King of heaven, when battle is done,
grant heaven=s joy to me, O bright heaven=s sun;
Christ of my own heart, whatever befall,
still be my vision, O Ruler of all.

Background Information

The words are from an original Irish poem, which probably dates from the eighth century. They were translated by Mary E Byrne (1880 - 1931) and versified by Eleanor H Hull (1860 - 1935).

The words were linked to the popular Irish tune, Slane, in 1927. Slane is an Irish traditional air from Joyce's "Old Irish Folk Music and Songs", 1920. It is the melody of a song, "With my love on the road".

The words themselves, even without being sung, can be used as a prayer. Despite the "age" of the words, they are as relevant today as when they were first written, and remind us of the importance of, and fulfilment that comes from, dedicating our lives to God.