Known as "Van the Man" by his fans, Morrison first rose to prominence as the lead singer of the Northern Irish band Them, writing their 1964 hit "Gloria". A few years later, Morrison left the band for a successful solo career, starting with the album Astral Weeks.
Morrison has pursued an idiosyncratic musical path. Much of his music is tightly structured around the conventions of American soul and R&B, such as the popular singles "Brown Eyed Girl", "Moondance", "Domino", and "Wild Night". An equal part of his catalogue consists of lengthy, loosely connected, spiritually inspired musical journeys that show the influence of Celtic tradition, jazz, and stream-of-consciousness narrative, such as his classic album Astral Weeks and lesser known works such as Veedon Fleece and Common One. The two strains together are sometimes referred to as "Celtic Soul," and Morrison rejects the characterization of his genre of music as Rock, citing Elvis Presley as a non-influence.
He continues to perform regularly and achieved his highest U.S. chart position (number ten on the Billboard 200) with his 2008 album, Keep It Simple.
Be Thou My Vision
Van Morrison Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nought be all else to me, save that Thy art
Thou my best thought in the day and the night
Waking or sleeping, Thou presence my light
Be Thou my wisdom, be Thou my true word
I ever with Thee and Thou with me Lord
Thou my great Father and I Thy true son
Be Thou my breastplate, my sword for the fight
Be Thou my armor and be Thou my might
Thou my soul shelter, and Thy my high tower
Raise Thou me heavenwards, oh power of my power
Riches I need not, nor man's empty praise
Thou mine inheritance through all of my days
Thou and Thou only though first in my heart
High king of heaven my treasure Thou art
Oh high king of heaven, when battle is done
Grant heaven's joy to me, bright heaven sun
Christ of my own heart, whatever befall
Still be my vision, though ruler of all
Da, da, da, da, da,
The song "Be Thou My Vision" by Van Morrison is a hymn that speaks about the love and devotion to God. The lyrics express the singer's pure and genuine desire for God to be the focal point of his heart and soul, above all else. The first two lines of the song set the tone for the rest of the lyrics, as they express the belief that nothing else but God's presence and guidance is required to live a fulfilled life. The singer invites God to be his "best thought in the day and the night," acknowledging that God's love is everlasting and ever-present.
In the second verse, the lyrics suggest that the singer seeks divine guidance from God, who he believes to be his "great Father." The singer acknowledges that he is a true son of God and that God dwells within him. He asks God to be his protector and defender in times of conflict and adversity.
The last verse of the song speaks about the ultimate goal of the singer's life, which is to attain heaven and be with God. The singer acknowledges that he needs no riches or praise from others during his lifetime because his true treasure lies with God. He asks for God's blessing and joy in heaven when his time on earth is done.
Line by Line Meaning
Be Thou my vision, oh Lord of my heart
God, please be the number one focus of my heart and the driving force behind everything I do.
Nought be all else to me, save that Thy art
Nothing else in my life should take priority or be held in higher regard than You.
Thou my best thought in the day and the night
I want my mind to be consumed with thoughts of You both during the day and at night.
Waking or sleeping, Thou presence my light
God, please always keep me in Your loving presence whether I am awake or asleep.
Be Thou my wisdom, be Thou my true word
Dear God, I pray You will show me Your wisdom, and lead me to follow Your true and honest Word.
I ever with Thee and Thou with me Lord
May I always be with You, and You always with me. Never let us fall out of sync, and always guide me, oh Lord.
Thou my great Father and I Thy true son
You are my heavenly father, and I am Your child, always needing Your strength and love to grow and become stronger in my faith.
Thou in me dwelling and I with Thee one
May my soul always be a safe haven for You that you may always dwell within me, and may I feel forever connected to You.
Be Thou my breastplate, my sword for the fight
God, please be my armor in life’s battles and the sword that watches over me and keeps me safe.
Be Thou my armor and be Thou my might
In all my battles and efforts, God, may Your strength and power be my shield and might.
Thou my soul shelter, and Thy my high tower
Please always be my sanctuary and protection, and lift me up to be strong against all adversity.
Raise Thou me heavenwards, oh power of my power
God, please lift me up towards heaven and be the driving force of my strength and power.
Riches I need not, nor man's empty praise
I do not require material riches or hollow compliments from others. You, God, are enough for me.
Thou mine inheritance through all of my days
You are my greatest blessing, and I cherish You more than any material possession, and forever will always be grateful for Your love.
Thou and Thou only though first in my heart
You are the only one that should hold the highest place in my heart, more important than anyone or anything else.
High king of heaven my treasure Thou art
God, You are the king of all king's in heaven, and my most cherished possession.
Oh high king of heaven, when the battle is done
When all is said and done, and my earthly journey is complete, may I join You in heaven, dear God.
Grant heaven's joy to me, bright heaven sun
Please allow me to feel the joy and warmth of Heaven's love in a way that will allow me to experience greater contentment than ever before.
Christ of my own heart, whatever befall
Christ lives in my heart, so no matter the situation, He will be my guiding light.
Still be my vision, though ruler of all
God, please always continue to be the driving force in my life and keep me focused on Your guidance and love.
Da, da, da, da, da,
Musical Interlude
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Van Morrison, Trad
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind