Scripture Verse

Christ is all, and in all. Colossians 3:11

Introduction

Words: Em­ma C. Dowd, in Ech­oes of Pa­ra­dise (Bos­ton, Mas­sa­chu­setts: Charles H. Wood­man, 1903), num­ber 167.

Music: Too­wong Tho­ro Har­ris, 1903 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Dowd (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els), or a bet­ter one of Har­ris,

portrait
Thoro Harris (1874–1955)

Lyrics

Be Thou my friend, my close com­pan­ion ever;
Earth’s paths di­verge as com­rades on­ward wend;
Friends may de­part, but Thou, O leave me ne­ver!
Be Thou my friend, be Thou my friend.

Be Thou my strength, for I am full of weak­ness;
In Thee alone can I be strong at length;
Help me to lean on Thee in trust and meek­ness;
Be Thou my strength, be Thou my strength.

Be Thou my life: no oth­er one can feed me;
I, wea­ry, faint, so worn with pain and strife;
Where liv­ing waters flow, O gent­ly lead me;
Be Thou my life, be Thou my life.

Be Thou my all; for ter­rors oft en­fold me,
The vasts of Thy great uni­verse ap­pall;
Closer to Thy dear heart, yet clos­er hold me!
Be Thou my all, be Thou my all.