Song 40 in Easy Piano for Adults and Seniors

Be Thou My Vision

Also known as: SLANE

Every recording starts with four clicks to set the speed. Start with the slow one. Tap ▶ to play.

Piano

For Easy Piano for Adults and Seniors.

Slow (70% speed) (0:54)
Learn with this one first.

Normal speed (0:38)
The speed printed on the page.

Play-along (0:38)
Just the accompaniment, no tune: you play or sing the melody.

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart,
Naught is all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best thought by day and by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
Be Thou my Wisdom, Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee, Thou with me, Lord.
Thou my great Father, I thy dear son;
Thou in me dwelling, I with Thee one.
Be Thou my battle-shield, sword for the fight,
Be Thou my dignity, Thou my delight.
Thou my soul's shelter, Thou my high tower;
Raise Thou me heavenward, Power of my power.
Riches I heed not or man's empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance now and always.
Thou, and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my treasure Thou art.
King of the seven heavens, grant me for dole,
Thy love in my heart, Thy light in my soul.
Thy light from my soul, Thy love from my heart,
King of the seven heavens, may they never depart.
With the High King of heaven, after victory won,
May I reach heaven's joys, O Bright heaven's Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

Music: Traditional Irish melody SLANE ("With My Love on the Road", printed 1909 by P. W. Joyce, 1827–1914); hymn form as in the Church Hymnary (1927), arr. David Evans (1874–1948)
Words: Ancient Irish; literal translation Mary E. Byrne (1880–1931); versified by Eleanor Hull (1860–1935)
First published: Translation 1905 (Ériu); Hull's verse 1912 (The Poem-Book of the Gael); tune 1909 (Joyce); hymn form 1919 / 1927
Copyright: Public domain in the US, UK and EU. The arrangement and recordings belong to the book.