Be Thou My Vision

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Lyrics and chords

13. Be Thou my Vision

On this CD/MP3 you will hear a group of folk singer friends, all from different groups based in the North-East, particularly Durham area, coming together with a common purpose and a common mind…to give thanks for the life of our dear friend, Harry, who died of Motor Neurone Disease.

This hymn has also been recorded on the CD ‘Golden Days and Friendly Faces.’

(See website for North-East Motor Neurone Disease Trust.)

2C                                          G    C

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart,

      G                                     F                       G

be all else but naught to me, save that Thou art;

      F                    C                                      Am

be thou my best thought in the day and the night,

         C               Am                Fsus              C

both waking and sleeping, thy presence my light.

C                                                  G     C

Be thou my wisdom, be thou my true word,

      G                               F                    G

be thou ever with me and I with thee, Lord

      F                     C                                 Am

be thou my great Father, and I thy true son;

       C                Am             Fsus           C

be thou in me dwelling, and I with thee one.

C                                                             G   C

Be thou my breastplate, my sword for the fight;

        G                                      F                  G

be thou my whole armour, be thou my true might;

     F                         C                                       Am

be thou my soul's shelter, be thou my strong tower:

      C                   Am                          Fsus            C

O raise thou me heavenward, great power of my power.

C                                                 G     C

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise;

        G                                F            G

be thou mine inheritance now and always;

        F                   C                              Am

be thou and thou only the first in my heart;

      C                  Am                Fsus             C

O Sovereign of heaven, my treasure thou art.

C                                                       G        C

High king of heaven, thou heaven's bright Sun,

     G                                       F         G

O grant me its joys after vict'ry is won;

            F                   C                             Am

great Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,

         C                Am           Fsus          C

still be thou my vision, thou Ruler of all.

Words: Irish (C8th Century)  Translated: Mary Byrne and Eleanor Hull.

Music: Traditional Irish Melody arr. Colin Hand