Be Thou My Vision

Sheet Music

• SSATBB Arrangement by Mark Hamilton Dewey, 2007
  • PDF
  • MIDI (Piano)
  • MIDI (Choir)
  • LilyPond
  • Copyright: Public Domain: All portions that were not already public domain were released to the public domain by the arranger on 27 July 2007. He already had released the parts and the versification (except for a few changes in the third verse, which he released to the public domain in 2007) to the public domain in 2006.
  • Contributer: Veramet 20:54, 27 July 2007 (MDT) (Veramet is the arranger)
  • Notes: The poetic meter varies slightly with this arrangement, and is somewhat different on the first two verses than the rest, due to where the emphasis on a certain line lies. This is why this article is also in the irregular meters category.
    • 'Light is short for Alight.
    • The midis have karaoke functionality, for all verses (only tested with vanBasco's Karaoke Player).
  • Critique this arrangement on Nabble.

Tunes and Composers

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

Lyrics

Lyrics from ucc.ie (Original Irish Lyrics)

• Copyright: Public Domain
• Poetic Meter: ?
• Lyrics from ucc.ie

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 link from the Cyber Hymnal

Stanzas

The Irish text at ucc.ie is in 16 stanzas. Most current American English hymnals that contain this hymn give four stanzas, the text as at oremus.org but omitting the third (breastplate) stanza. The Summit Choirbook gives an additional stanza.

Lyrics from Mark Hamilton Dewey's SSATBB arrangement

• Contributer: The arranger
• Copyright: Public Domain - All portions that were not already public domain were released to the public domain by the arranger on 27 July 2007. He already had released the versification (except for a few changes in the third verse, which he released to the public domain in 2007) to the public domain in 2006.
• Poetic Meter: Irregular, but it may work as 5 5 6 4 5 5 6 5 and/or 5 5 5 5 5 5 6 5.
• Arranger's Notes: The first two verses differ significantly from the original, and the other verses contain some less major alterations, mostly for versification and to conform with the mood established by the changes in the first two verses. The second verse was changed for several reasons: 1. To accommodate female singers (i.e. it once said and I Thy true son, with son referring to the singer. 2. The altered note on the last system made it difficult to simply reversify that verse. The first verse was altered to avoid a certain double meaning to those who would think of the song less poetically. The first line of the first verse was changed for the sake of mood, as it contrasted strangely with the previous verses, before the change, although I did like for the fight more than in the fight and in the fight is quickly growing on me with the new mood, but for just didn't fit as well. The change to Guardian I much preferred, as it avoided the whole conflict of what kind of armor name I should use (plus it made the song seem less war-like, though it fit well being thus in the original version). Veramet 16:39, 28 July 2007 (MDT)
• Contributer: Veramet 21:39, 27 July 2007 (MDT)

1. Be Thou my Vision,
Through night and come day;
'Light* on me always,
Thy Spirit to stay—
Thou, Eternal Father,
The Great and the Last,
The wise and true Sov'reign
Of all that shall pass.
(*Note that 'Light stands for Alight)

2. Be Thou my Wisdom,
My Staff and my Stay,
Shine through the darkness;
Give light to my way!
Be Thou the true Source
Of all I enjoy,
So let carnal pleasures
No longer annoy.

3. Be Thou my Guardian,
My Sword in 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!

Resources

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

External Links

• CPDL Article