Be Thou My Vision

This is an online fiddle lesson for the hymn "Be Thou My Vision" by Dallán Forgaill.  BluegrassDaddy.com is your best source for Bluegrass, Old Time, Celtic, Gospel, and Country fiddle lessons!

Genre: Gospel
Skill Level: Beginner, Intermediate
Key of A and D

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Video #1: Here is a video of me performing the fiddle tune "Be Thou My Vision." I teach both the beginner and the intermediate breaks you hear here.  Beginner and intermediate versions are found on the same tablature/notation sheet.

Be Thou My Vision from John Cockman on Vimeo.

"Be Thou My Vision" is a traditional hymn from Ireland commonly attributed to Irish Catholic poet, Saint Dallán Forgaill. The original Old Irish text, "Rop tú mo Baile," was written in the 6th century as a tribute to St. Patrick's wholehearted loyalty to God. The text had been a part of Irish monastic tradition for centuries before its setting to music. It was translated from Old Irish into English by Mary Elizabeth Byrne, M.A., in Ériu (the journal of the School of Irish Learning), in 1905. The English text was first versified by Eleanor Hull, in 1912, and is now the most common text used.  (wikipedia) (share faith)

The tune, known as "Slane," is of 8th century Irish folk origin.  Slane Hill is about ten miles from Tara in County Meath, Ireland.  It was on Slane Hill around 433 AD that St. Patrick defied a royal edict by lighting candles on Easter Eve.  High King Logaire of Tara had decreed that no one could light a fire before Logaire began the pagan spring festival by lighting a fire on Tara Hill.  Logaire was so impressed by Patrick's devotion that, despite his defiance (or perhaps because of it), he let him continue his missionary work in Ireland.  (cyberhymnal)

Be Thou My Vision

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and 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, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor 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.

High King of Heaven, my 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.