Be Thou My Vision
Card Michael Lyrics
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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;
Riches I heed not, nor man's empty gain,
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.
In Card Michael's song "Be Thou My Vision," the artist is expressing a deep spiritual longing to be in the presence of God. The opening lines of the song set the tone for the entire piece, as Card prays for God to be the focus of his life in every respect. He prays that nothing else would take the place of God in his heart, and that God would be his best and most constant thought, day and night.
The second verse of the song continues with this theme, as Card asks God to be his wisdom and true word. The phrase "I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord" speaks to the intimacy of the relationship that Card is seeking with God - he wants to be in constant communion with Him. Besides, he thinks of God as a Father and himself a son. He desires God to dwell in him, and he in God, as one entity.
The final verse concludes with a yearning to reach heaven and experience the joys within. Card prays that God would continue to be his vision, regardless of what he faces in life, and that God would rule over all aspects of his being. The song as a whole expresses a deep desire to draw closer to God and experience His presence in every aspect of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Lord, be my guide and my focus in life, and I will direct everything towards You.
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Let nothing else distract me from Your presence and purpose in my life.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
In all times and all places, You are my most important and comforting thought.
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
Whether awake or asleep, Your presence illuminates my life and provides me with peace.
Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
May Your wisdom and truth be my guiding principles in life.
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
May our relationship be constant and unbreakable, with You always by my side.
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
You are my loving and nurturing Father, and I am forever Your devoted child.
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.
May we be inseparable, with Your spirit living within me and making me one with You.
Riches I heed not, nor man's empty gain,
I do not desire worldly wealth or empty achievements, for my true wealth and fulfillment come from You alone.
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
You are my most precious possession and the source of my eternal inheritance.
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
Above all else, You are the most important and cherished thing in my heart.
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.
You are the greatest treasure in all of heaven and earth, and I hold You in the highest esteem.
High King of Heaven, my victory won,
You are the victorious King of heaven, who has already won the ultimate battle.
May I reach Heaven's joys, O bright Heaven's Sun!
May I one day experience the unbridled joy of heaven and bask in the radiance of Your glory.
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
You are the very center and essence of my being, and no matter what happens, my heart will remain steadfast in its love for You.
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
May You always be the clear and perfect vision that guides my every step, for You are the ruler of all.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MICHAEL J. CARD, CRAIG DUNCAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind