According to the FAQ section on her website, the name on her birth certificate is Sandra Patty. A printer's error on the labeling listed her name as Sandi Patti, and she used this moniker as her stage name for the next fifteen years, before returning to her given name of Sandi Patty.
Her career excelled after she won her first two GMA Dove Awards in 1982, and began singing backup for Bill Gaither and the Bill Gaither Trio. She headlined her first national tour in 1984, and reached national acclaim after her rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" was included during the ABC Statue of Liberty rededication broadcast on July 4, 1986. This exposure led to multiple mainstream television appearances including The Tonight Show, Christmas in Washington, and Walt Disney Fourth of July Extravaganza.
At the peak of her career, her concerts were so heavily attended that she performed in often sold-out mainstream arenas and concert halls. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, she averaged over 200 concerts a year, and supported a staff of over 30 that managed her career. During this time she was noted, often critically, as the highest paid singer in the Christian music industry, largely due to massive touring and high-profile public appearances. In 1992, her surprising divorce from manager John Helvering rocked the Gospel Music industry, and this was later followed by an infidelity scandal that subsequently stalled her career in the mid-'90s. However, she slowly rebuilt her career through expanding her musical appeal, performing pops concerts with symphony orchestras including the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the Cincinnati Pops, and repeatedly served as master of ceremonies for the Yuletide Celebration with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.
Awards
Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductee in 2004
39 GMA Dove Awards: 1982 (x2), 1983 (x1), 1984 (x4), 1985 (x4), 1986 (x1), 1987 (x3), 1988 (x3), 1989 (x5), 1990 (x2), 1991 (x3), 1992 (x4), 1994 (x1), 1995 (x1), 1996 (x1), 1998 (x2), 1999 (x2)
5 Grammy Awards: 1984, 1986, 1987(x2), 1991
4 Billboard Music Awards
5 Gold albums (RIAA)
3 Platinum albums (RIAA)
Be Thou My Vision
Sandi Patty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
Be Thou my wisdom
And Thou my true word
I ever with Thee
And Thou with me, Lord
Thou my great Father
And I Thy true son
Thou in me dwelling
And I with Thee one
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 One
High King of Heaven
My victory won
May I reach heaven's joys
O bright heavens Son
Heart of my own heart
Whatever befall
Still be my vision
O ruler of all
Still be my vision
O ruler
O ruler of all
The song "Be Thou My Vision" by Sandi Patty is a beautiful hymn that expresses a deep, personal relationship with God. The lyrics speak of a longing for a true connection with God, and a desire for divine guidance and wisdom to navigate the challenges of life. The opening lines of the song, "Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart," set the tone for a heartfelt plea for God to guide and lead the singer on their journey of faith.
The phrase "naught be all else to me" in the first stanza expresses a willingness to let go of all worldly desires and distractions, and focus solely on God. The second stanza speaks of God being the source of wisdom and truth, and a steadfast presence throughout the ups and downs of life. The third and fourth stanzas emphasize the idea that material possessions and the approval of others are ultimately unimportant, as God is the only true source of value and worth.
The chorus of the song, "High King of Heaven, my victory won," expresses a profound sense of gratitude and admiration for God's power and authority. The final lines of the song, "Still be my vision, O ruler of all," emphasize the singer's desire to remain focused on God, regardless of what happens in their life.
Overall, Sandi Patty's "Be Thou My Vision" is a beautiful expression of faith and devotion, and a reminder to all of us to seek God's guidance and wisdom in all aspects of our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Be Thou my vision
Let my spiritual sight be focused on You
O Lord of my heart
You are the sovereign of my emotions and innermost being
Naught be all else to me
All else compared to You does not matter to me
Save that Thou art
Except for You being God, nothing else is valuable to me
Thou my best thought
You occupy my mind more than any other thought
By day or by night
I depend on You all day and night
Waking or sleeping
Whether I'm awake or asleep, I am mindful of Your presence
Thy presence
You being present in my life is everything to me
My light
You light up my path way in times of darkness
Be Thou my wisdom
You are the source of godly wisdom for me
And Thou my true word
You are the Word of truth that I listen and obey
I ever with Thee
I will always remain with You
And Thou with me, Lord
You are always with me as my constant companion
Thou my great Father
You are my loving and honourable Father in heaven
And I Thy true son
I am Your obedient and true child
Thou in me dwelling
Your Holy Spirit lives in me
And I with Thee one
I am one with You in spirit
Riches I heed not
I do not care about wealth or any worldly possession
Nor man's empty praise
I do not care about people's meaningless accolades
Thou mine inheritance
You are my sole and true inheritance
Now and always
I will depend on You today and forever
Thou and Thou Only
You alone are the focus of my devotion
First in my heart
You are the foremost and greatest of all in my heart
High King of Heaven
You are the sovereign ruler of heaven
My treasure
You are my precious and most valued treasure
Thou One
You are the only One who matters to me
My victory won
Through You, I have emerged victorious.
May I reach heaven's joys
I long to enjoy eternal blessings in heaven
O bright heavens Son
You are the bright Son of heaven
Heart of my own heart
You are the essence of my being
Whatever befall
No matter what comes my way
Still be my vision
May You always be my ultimate Focus
O ruler
My sovereign Lord, You rule over all things
O ruler of all
You are the ruler and King of everything
Contributed by Leah F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.