Be Thou My Vision
About the Song
This old Irish text was translated by Mary Elizabeth Byrne in 1905, and later cast into verse by Eleanor H. Hull in 1912. It was set to a traditional Irish tune called “Slane.”
We use this tune for the hymn “Take Time to be Holy” as well. I also set “Away in a Manger” to the same arrangement. Since these are all well-loved hymns, I did separate scores for each of them. To avoid confusion, they are posted on three separate pages.
The solo and SSAATB accompaniments are not interchangeable–a few of the notes will clash. If you need a lower version, you can use the “Away In a Manger” score to accompany it.
The recordings below are the solo version. If you need accompaniment or piano tracks for the SSAATB, you can use the “Away in a Manger” files for that as well.
Sheet Music Downloads
Spotify, Soundcloud (inc. free downloads)
Spotify:
Be Thou My Vision (Accompaniment Track)
Be Thou My Vision (Piano Track)
Soundcloud:
Click the 
to download the free track for personal use.
Recording featuring vocals by James Loynes:
Accompaniment track (Solo version–high voice):
Piano track (Solo version–high voice):
Apple Music, Amazon
These files may be copied/shared in any quantity in any physical format unless otherwise noted. They may not be re-sold or offered for download.
Apple Music: Be Thou My Vision (feat. James Loynes)
Apple Music: Be Thou My Vision (Accompaniment Track)
Apple Music: Be Thou My Vision (Piano Track)
Amazon: Be Thou My Vision (feat. James Loynes)
Amazon: Be Thou My Vision (Accompaniment Track)
Amazon: Be Thou My Vision (Piano Track)
YouTube
(Video provided to YouTube by outside parties may contain ads that may be skipped after a few seconds.)
Lyrics
Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart,
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best thought, both by day and by night,
In waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light
Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true Word
Be thou ever with me, and I with thee, Lord
Be thou my soul’s shelter, Be thou my high tow’r
Oh raise thou me heavenward, Great Pow’r of my power
Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise
Be thou mine inheritance, now and always
Thou and thou only the first in my heart
Oh high King of heaven, my treasure thou art
High King of heaven, my victory won
May I reach heaven’s joy, Oh heaven’s Son!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall
Still be thou my vision, oh ruler of all
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15 Comments
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Billie Giese again.
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Copyright Information
From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2025 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.
Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SAS003587
Permission to reprint, podcast, and stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE with License
#A-710309. All rights reserved.
I would like to sing this arrangement on Sunday, January 13, 2025. l see you have allowed livestreaming.
Our service is live streamed. Typically we have 63 viewers. Facebook requires we list the livestream rights.
Could you provide those details. Thank you very much.
I have sung this at other churches (not live streamed) and it was so loved by those congreations.
Thank you
YOU are a marvelous work and a wonder, Sally! I’m so grateful for your talent and generosity. What a blessing. I’ve been looking at a bazillion different versions of this song and this one is so beautiful. Thank you!
Where do I find an SATB arrangement of this with accompaniment?
Beautiful arrangement. So heavenly & so inspiring.
Sally, I love this arrangement! I just recorded and filmed it for my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/8CmpOnTAK9A?si=3e_2XcLq9rWF8mJV
Thank you so much for arranging this!
Thank you for making this amazingly beautiful arrangement available for the public! It brings me a new interpretation and deeper understanding for the song! God bless your work!
I have enjoyed using your beautiful music with our choir as well as soloing it. Thank you!
I would like to use one or 2 of the recordings as background to a PowerPoint. This would be used during our service which is streamed. Would this be a problem?
Thank you for sharing your gifts and your time.
No problem at all!
Good Ms De Fourd.
Will it be possible to email me the music sheet of Be thou my vision.
Thank you
Sally thank you for all your musics it gives us inspiration to rejoice in Lord.
Sally, your arrangement of Be Thou My Vision is amazing. The fact that it comes in two keys is really special. I found it on a strange site called Scribd but then was very thankful that I searched your name and found your site. Thank you for all you are giving to Christians everywhere. Sincerely, Suzanne Galer- Wert, Gardens Presbyterian Church, Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Sally, I don’t know you but I WANT to know you because I think you must be a saintly person. How I know that is that you FREELY share all your beautiful music with us. I love your music and arrangements so much! Therefore, I love you. A million thanks for allowing us to have this music. I am a voice teacher in Salt Lake and I use this music all the time for my voice students and my church choir has sung many of your arrangements. We are so blessed to have you.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.
Sister DeFord,
I love your beautiful gift and that you use it for so much good! You are an excellent missionary!
A family member just passed away and I have been asked to sing at her service. I was trying to find something beautiful yet unique (my family aren’t members), and I discovered Katherine Jenkins’ recording of “Homeward Bound” on YouTube. I loved it but there’s no decent Karaoke type of recording of it anywhere. Then I remembered you and found “Be Thou My Vision” and I am so delighted!!! While “Homeward Bound” was so perfect for the message I wanted to share with my family, I feel very blessed that my favorite LDS composer put together such a beautiful version of this other lovely song. I am so grateful to and for you. I know Heavenly Father must be so proud of his daughter who praises Him (and helps the rest of us to do the same) with her talents!
Sally, THANK YOU for such beautiful arrangements! My Choir at Pioneer Congregational UCC just loves your music.