Be Thou My Vision

Sheet Music

• SAATTBB arrangement by Mark Hamilton Dewey, using the tune Slane:
  • Poetic Meter: 5 5 6 4 5 5 6 5 (this differs from the normal arrangement)
  • PDF
  • MIDI (choir)
  • MIDI (piano)
  • LilyPond
  • Arrangement Copyright: It may be used as if it were Public Domain. If you need a date: Released to the public domain, by the arranger, on 12 May 2007 (though the rights were less officially given to the public in 2006).
  • Contributer: Veramet (i.e. the arranger)

Tunes and Composers

• Tune: Slane (Irish Folk Melody)
  • Poetic Meter: 5 5 6 4 5 5 5 5
  • Copyright: Public Domain

Lyrics

Lyrics from The Cyber Hymnal

• Poet: attributed to Dallan Forgaill (8th Century)
• Copyright: Public Domain
• Poetic Meter: 5 5 6 4 5 5 5 5

Lyrics from Mark Hamilton Dewey's Arrangement

• Copyright: Public Domain
• Poetic Meter: 5 5 6 4 5 5 6 5

1. Be Thou my Vision,
O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me,
Save that Thou art!
Thou art my best Thought,
By day or by night,
In waking or sleeping,
Thy presence my light.

2. Wilt Thou be my Captain
Over life's stormy sea,
Stay by me always,
And guide me to Thee;
Wilt Thou, my loving Father,
Take heed of my need,
And may I be numbered,
To dwell with Thy seed?

3. Be Thou my great Shield,
My Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity,
Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul's Shelter,
And Thou my high Tow'r:
Wilt Thou raise me heavenward,
O Pow'r of my pow'r?

4. Riches I heed not,
Or man's empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance,
Now and always:
Thou and Thou only,
Still first in my heart,
The High King of Heaven,
My Treasure Thou art.

5. High King of Heaven,
My victory won,
May I reach Heaven's joys,
O bright Heav'n's Sun!
Heart of my own heart,
Whatever befall,
Still be Thou my Vision,
O Ruler of all!

Original Irish Lyrics (http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/G400018/text001.html)

• Copyright: Public Domain
• Poetic Meter: ?

Resources

• Original Irish Lyrics
• Lyrics from Oremus Hymnal
• Lyrics from The Cyber Hymnal

External MP3s

• Piano version by Rosenberger, at OurMedia.org