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*[http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/G400018/text001.html Rop tú mo baile] (Original Irish Version)
*[http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/G400018/text001.html Rop tú mo baile] (Original Irish Version)
*[http://www.smo.uhi.ac.uk/sengoidelc/corpus/danta/Rop_tu_mo_baile/ Rop tú mo baile - pronunciation] - soundfile by Dennis King
*[http://www.smo.uhi.ac.uk/sengoidelc/corpus/danta/Rop_tu_mo_baile/ Rop tú mo baile - pronunciation] - soundfile by Dennis King
*[http://www.cpdl.org/wiki/index.php/Be_Thou_My_Vision_%28Traditional%29 CPDL.org Article]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070204080700/http://www.cpdl.org/wiki/index.php/Be_Thou_My_Vision_%28Traditional%29 CPDL.org Article]
*{{ChoralWiki|Be Thou my vision (Traditional)|"Be Thou My Vision"|prep=of}}
*{{ChoralWiki|Be Thou my vision (Traditional)|"Be Thou My Vision"|prep=of}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120519182436/http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/b/e/t/bethoumv.htm Lyrics, History and MIDI at CyberHymnal]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120519182436/http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/b/e/t/bethoumv.htm Lyrics, History and MIDI at CyberHymnal]

Revision as of 12:44, 15 December 2017

Be Thou My Vision
Native name[[[Old Irish]] Rop tú mo baile or Rob tú mo bhoile] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help)
GenreHymn
Textattr. St Dallán Forgaill;
trans. Eleanor Hull
MelodySlane (trad. Irish)
Published6th or 8th century (trans. 1912)
Translations into English, Modern Irish and Scottish Gaelic

"Be Thou My Vision" (Old Irish: Rop tú mo baile or Rob tú mo bhoile) is a traditional hymn from Ireland. The most well known English version, with some minor variations, was translated by Eleanor Hull and published in 1912. In 1919, the lyrics were set to the tune of the Irish folk tune "Slane", to which the song is sung to this day, both in English and Irish. The song has often been attributed to the sixth-century Irish Christian poet Saint Dallan,[1] though some scholars cite an eighth-century date.[2]

History

Church ruins on Slane Hill

The original Old Irish text, "Rop tú mo Baile" is often attributed to Saint Dallán Forgaill in the 6th century.[1] The text had been a part of Irish monastic tradition for centuries before its setting to music.[3] Dallán may have been inspired by the text of an 5th-century hymn written by Saint Patrick, known as "Saint Patrick's Breastplate" or "Saint Patrick's Lorica", which invokes the protection of God. Despite this traditional attribution, historians now date the text as having been written sometime between 950 and 1100. A 14th century manuscript attributed to Adhamh Ó Cianáin contains a handwritten copy of the poem in Middle Irish, and is held at the National Library of Ireland.[4] A second manuscript is at the Royal Irish Academy, dating from about the 10th or 11th century.

The text of "Rop tú mo Baile"/"Be Thou My Vision" reflects aspects of life in Early Christian Ireland (c.400-800 AD). The prayer belongs to a type known as a lorica, a prayer for protection.[5] The symbolic use of a battle-shield and a sword to invoke the power and protection of God draws on Saint Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians (Ephesians 6:16–17), which refers to "the shield of faith" and "the sword of the Spirit". Such military symbolism was common in the poetry and hymnnology of Christian monasteries of the period due to the prevalence of clan warfare across Ireland.[6]

The use of the folk-tune commonly known as Slane may also bear significance; it is named after the town of Slane (Irish: Baile Shláine) in County Meath, and it was here at Slane Hill in 433 that Saint Patrick defied a royal edict by the High King of Ireland, Lóegaire mac Néill. The king had decreed that he should be the first to light a bonfire at the Hill of Tara on Easter Eve to mark the start of the festival of Beltane, and that no other fire may be lit ahead of the royal bonfire; Patrick's defiance in lighting a bonfire on a neighbouring hill set Christianity in opposition to Celtic polytheism and asserted the Kingship of Christ over the rule of earthly kings. "Be Thou My Vision" makes additional reference to God as "King of the Seven Heavens" and the "High King of Heaven".[6] This depiction of the Christian God as a chieftain or High King (Irish: Ard Rí) is a traditional representation in Irish literature; medieval Irish poetry typically used heroic imagery to cast God as a clan protector.[7]

In 1905, "Rop tú mo Baile" was translated from Old Irish into English by Mary Elizabeth Byrne, M.A., in Ériu (the journal of the School of Irish Learning). The English text was first versified in 1912 by Eleanor Hull, president of the Irish Literary Society, and this is now the most common text used.[8][9]

Lyrics

"Rop Tú mo Baile"
Selected verses of "Be thou my vision" sung in Old Irish to the musical composition, "Slane"
Problems playing this file? See media help.

The original texts of the now-called "Be Thou My Vision" are in Old Irish similar still in style to Modern Irish. The hymn has been translated into Modern Irish many times. The most popular is that by Aodh Ó Dúgain of Gaoth Dobhair, County Donegal. Two verses of his translation were recorded by his granddaughter Moya Brennan – the first time any part of his text has been publicly recorded. Since then, those two verses have been recorded by many artists including Roma Downey and Aoife and Iona. These verses are very close translations to the first two of the Old Irish text above.

With Old Irish being the ancestor language of Modern Scottish Gaelic, the song was translated by Céitidh Mhoireasdan and published by Sabhal Mòr Ostaig.Soills’ Air Mo Smuain

Two variants of Eleanor Hull's 1912 English translation exist; one version, commonly used in Irish and Scottish hymnals (including the Hymnbooks of the Church of Scotland), fits the metre 10.10.10.10, while a paraphrased version that is used in English books (such as the New English Hymnal) is suitable to an anacrucial metre 10.11.11.11.[10][11]

Original Old Irish Text

Rop tú mo baile, a Choimdiu cride:
ní ní nech aile acht Rí secht nime.

Rop tú mo scrútain i l-ló 's i n-aidche;
rop tú ad-chëar im chotlud caidche.

Rop tú mo labra, rop tú mo thuicsiu;
rop tussu dam-sa, rob misse duit-siu.

Rop tussu m'athair, rob mé do mac-su;
rop tussu lem-sa, rob misse lat-su.

Rop tú mo chathscíath, rop tú mo chlaideb;
rop tussu m'ordan, rop tussu m'airer.

Rop tú mo dítiu, rop tú mo daingen;
rop tú nom-thocba i n-áentaid n-aingel.

Rop tú cech maithius dom churp, dom anmain;
rop tú mo flaithius i n-nim 's i talmain.

Rop tussu t' áenur sainserc mo chride;
ní rop nech aile acht Airdrí nime.

Co talla forum, ré n-dul it láma,
mo chuit, mo chotlud, ar méit do gráda.

Rop tussu t' áenur m' urrann úais amra:
ní chuinngim daíne ná maíne marba.

Rop amlaid dínsiur cech sel, cech sáegul,
mar marb oc brénad, ar t' fégad t' áenur.

Do serc im anmain, do grád im chride,
tabair dam amlaid, a Rí secht nime.

Tabair dam amlaid, a Rí secht nime,
do serc im anmain, do grád im chride.

Go Ríg na n-uile rís íar m-búaid léire;
ro béo i flaith nime i n-gile gréine

A Athair inmain, cluinte mo núall-sa:
mithig (mo-núarán!) lasin trúagán trúag-sa.

A Chríst mo chride, cip ed dom-aire,
a Flaith na n-uile, rop tú mo baile.

English translation by Mary Byrne (1905)

Be thou my vision O Lord of my heart
None other is aught but the King of the seven heavens.

Be thou my meditation by day and night.
May it be thou that I behold even in my sleep.

Be thou my speech, be thou my understanding.
Be thou with me, be I with thee

Be thou my father, be I thy son.
Mayst thou be mine, may I be thine.

Be thou my battle-shield, be thou my sword.
Be thou my dignity, be thou my delight.

Be thou my shelter, be thou my stronghold.
Mayst thou raise me up to the company of the angels.

Be thou every good to my body and soul.
Be thou my kingdom in heaven and on earth.

Be thou solely chief love of my heart.
Let there be none other, O high King of Heaven.

Till I am able to pass into thy hands,
My treasure, my beloved through the greatness of thy love

Be thou alone my noble and wondrous estate.
I seek not men nor lifeless wealth.

Be thou the constant guardian of every possession and every life.
For our corrupt desires are dead at the mere sight of thee.

Thy love in my soul and in my heart --
Grant this to me, O King of the seven heavens.

O King of the seven heavens grant me this --
Thy love to be in my heart and in my soul.

With the King of all, with him after victory won by piety,
May I be in the kingdom of heaven O brightness of the son.

Beloved Father, hear, hear my lamentations.
Timely is the cry of woe of this miserable wretch.

O heart of my heart, whatever befall me,
O ruler of all, be thou my vision.

Modern Irish translation

Bí Thusa ’mo shúile a Rí mhór na ndúil
Líon thusa mo bheatha mo chéadfaí ’s mo stuaim
Bí thusa i m'aigne gach oíche ’s gach lá
Im chodladh no im dhúiseacht, líon mé le do ghrá.

Bí thusa ’mo threorú i mbriathar ’s i mbeart
Fan thusa go deo liom is coinnigh mé ceart
Glac cúram mar Athair, is éist le mo ghuí
Is tabhair domsa áit cónaí istigh i do chroí.


English version by Eleanor Hull (1912)

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.

(The English Methodist version from 1964 omits verse 3.)

Alternative English version by Eleanor Hull (1912)

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Be all else but naught to me, save that Thou art;
Be Thou my best thought in the day and the night,
Both waking and 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 great Father, and I Thy true son;
Be Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my Breastplate, my Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my whole Armor, be Thou my true Might;
Be Thou my soul’s Shelter, be Thou my strong Tow’r,
O raise Thou me heav’nward, great Pow’r of my pow’r.

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise;
Be Thou mine inheritance, now and always;
Be Thou and Thou only the first in my heart,
O high King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of heaven, Thou heaven's bright Sun,
O grant me its joys, after vict'ry is won;
Great Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be Thou my vision, O Ruler of all.

Modern Scottish Gaelic translation

Dèan dhòmh-sa tuigse,
Cuir soills’ air mo smuain;
Dh’iarrainn gur Tu
Bhiodh ’gam stiùreadh gach uair;
Làmh rium ’s an oidhche
Is romham ’s an tràth,
Réidh rium ’sa mhadainn
Agus glèidh mi tro’n latha.

Ceartas do m’ bhriathran
Agus fìrinn do m’ bheul,
Thusa toirt iùil dhomh
’S mi dlùth riut, a Dhè.
Athair, thoir gràdh dhomh,
Gabh mis’ thugad fhéin;
Cum mi ri d’ thaobh
Is bi daonnan ’nam chrè.

Dìon mi, a Thighearna,
Ri mo chliathaich ’s gach feachd;
Cùm mi fo d’ sgiath
’S thoir dhomh misneachd is neart,
Fasgadh do m’ anam
Is mi ri d’uchd dlùth;
Treòraich mi dhachaigh,
Dhè chumhachdaich Thu.

Beartas cha’n fhiach leam;
No miann chlann ’nan daoin’,
Thusa na m’ fhianais
Fad làithean mo shaogh’il
Thusa, Dhè ghràsmhoir,
A-mhàin na mo chrìdh’,
Le blàths is gràdh sìorraidh,
Mo Thighearna ’s mo Rìgh.

Other languages

  • Bahasa Indonesia - "Kaulah, ya Tuhan, Surya hidupku"
  • Chinese - "成为我异象"
  • Dutch - "Wees Mijn Verlangen"
  • French - "Qu'en toi je vive, Seigneur bien aimé"
  • German - "Steh mir vor Augen"
  • Greek - "Γίνε όραμα μου Θεέ της καρδίας"
  • Italian - "Sii la mia Visione"
  • Korean - "내 맘의 주여 소망 되소서"
  • Nepali - "होऊ मेरो दर्शन"
  • Norwegian - "Deg å få skode"
  • Polish - "On moim Panem"
  • Portuguese - "Dono do Meu Coração"
  • Spanish - "Oh Dios, Sé Mi Visión", "Oh Dios de mi alma, Sé Mi Visión"
  • Swedish – "Närmare mig (Herre, du min klippa)"
  • Thai - "โอ้เจ้าแห่งดวงจิต"
  • Ukrainian - "Будь мені, Боже, метою життя"
  • Welsh - "Bydd yn Welediad fy nghalon a'm byw"

Musical accompaniment

The melody "Slane"
The alternative version of "Slane" (upbeats highlighted in red)

The hymn is sung to the melody "Slane", an Irish folk tune in 3/4 time,[12] first published as "With My Love on the Road" in Patrick Joyce's Old Irish Folk Music and Songs in 1909.[13] The tune is a more elemental distillation of earlier forms, such as "The Hielan's o' Scotland'[14] and "By the Banks of the Bann," also compiled in Joyce (1909).[15] The words of "Be Thou My Vision" were first combined with this tune in the Irish Church Hymnal in 1919.[16] In some modern renditions the rhythm of "Slane" is adapted to 4/4 time.[17]

Two more 20th century hymns have been set to the same tune. The first was "Lord of All Hopefulness" written by Jan Struther around 1931.[18] The second was a popular wedding hymn, "God, In the Planning and Purpose of Life", written by John Bell and Graham Maule and first appearing in publication in 1989.[19]

Gå inte förbi ("Don't Walk Past") is a duet-single set to the tune, recorded by Swedish singer Peter Jöback and Norwegian singer Sissel Kyrkjebø and written by Ulf Schagerman. Jöback sings the lyrics in Swedish while Sissel sings in Norwegian. It was released as a single in 2003 and at an extended reissue of Jöback's Christmas album Jag kommer hem igen till jul. It was a hit in Norway and Sweden in the Christmas time of 2003 and a music video directed by Mikadelica was made in Denmark.[20][dead link] Norwegian newspaper VG gave it 4 out of 6.[21]

Modern renditions

References

  1. ^ a b Be Thou My Vision Archived 2012-05-19 at the Wayback Machine at Cyberhymnal
  2. ^ [1]
  3. ^ Songs and Hymns entry
  4. ^ Wright, Sheila Louise. ""Rop tú mo Baile" A Traditional 14 th C. Irish Poem/Song". Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  5. ^ Daw, Carl P. Jr., "Be Thou My Vision", Glory to God: A Companion, Westminster John Knox Press, 2016 ISBN 9781611646528
  6. ^ a b Byfield, Ted (2003). Darkness Descends : A.D. 350 to 565, the Fall of the Western Roman Empire. Christian History Project. p. 244. ISBN 9780968987339. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  7. ^ Ministries, Discipleship. "History of Hymns: "Be Thou My Vision" - umcdiscipleship.org". www.umcdiscipleship.org. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  8. ^ "The New Methodist Hymn Book Illustrated", John Telford (Epworth Press, London, 1934): This Old Irish poem was translated by Mary E. Byrne M.A. of the University of Ireland, an Irish Research worker to the Board of Intermediate Education. It was versified by Miss Eleanor Henrietta Hull, founder of the Irish Text Society, its secretary in 1899 and sometimes President of the Irish Literary Society of London and author of books on Ireland.
  9. ^ Bradley, Ian (2006). Daily Telegraph Book of Hymns. Bloomsbury Academic. p. 64. ISBN 9780826482822. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  10. ^ Stainer, John (1913). "477. Be Thou my Vision". The Church Hymnary: Authorized for Use in Public Worship by the Church of Scotland, the United Free Church of Scotland, The Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the Presbyterian Church of Australia, the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, the Presbyterian Church of South Africa. H. Frowde. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  11. ^ "339. Be Thou my Vision". The New English Hymnal. Canterbury Press. 1998. ISBN 9781853110979.
  12. ^ Be Thou My Vision sheet music
  13. ^ Patrick Joyce, Old Irish Folk Music and Songs, 1909, p. 151
  14. ^ Huntington, Gale; Herrmann, Lani (2010). Sam Henry's Songs of the People. University of Georgia Press. p. 487. ISBN 9780820336251. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  15. ^ https://archive.org/stream/oldirishfolkmusi00royauoft#page/294/mode/2up/search/bann
  16. ^ Smith III, James D. "Be Thou My Vision". Christianity Today Library. Archived from the original on 22 April 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ For example, Be Thou My Vision – revamped Archived September 24, 2014, at the Wayback Machine.
  18. ^ http://www.hymnary.org/text/lord_of_all_hopefulness_lord_of_all_joy
  19. ^ http://www.hymnary.org/text/god_in_the_planning_and_purpose_of_life
  20. ^ http://peterjoback.com/nyheter_swedish.php?newsdetail=71&page=55
  21. ^ http://www.vg.no/rampelys/musikk/musikkanmeldelser/peter-joback-amp-sissel-kyrkjeboe-gaa-inte-forbi-single/a/201106/

See also

External links

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