The words were written by English Anglican clergyman Edwin Hatch (1835-1889), and first
published in "Between Doubt and Prayer" (1878).
With meter of CM (common meter) tunes that it has been set to include:
"O breathe on me" vs "Breathe on me"
These are variations of the same text, the additional "O" is used in some tunes where it is required (eg ST COLUMBA) but is not required in others (eg TRENTHAM).
Fill me with life anew,
That I may love what thou dost love,
And do what thou wouldst do.
O breath on me, O Breath of God,
Until my heart is pure;
Until with thee I will one will,
To do and to endure.
O breath on me, O Breath of God,
Till I am wholly thine, Till all this earthly part of me
Glows with thy fire divine.
O breath on me, O Breath of God,
So I shall never die.
But live with thee the perfect life,
Of thine eternity.
O breathe on me, O Breath of God,
Fill me with life anew,
That I may love the things you love,
And do what you would do.
O breath on me, O Breath of God,
Until my heart is pure;
Until my will is one with yours,
To do and to endure.
O breath on me, O Breath of God,
My will to yours incline,
Until this selfish part of me
Glows with your fire divine.
O breath on me, O Breath of God,
So I shall never die.
But live with you the perfect life,
For all eternity.
With meter of CM (common meter) tunes that it has been set to include:
- ST COLUMBA (traditional Irish, source unknown) - probably the most commonly used setting in the UK
- TRENTHAM by Robert Jackson, in Fifty Sacred Leaflets, 1888 - most commonly used in America
- CARLISLE Charles Lockhart, 1791
- WIRKSWORTH by John Chetham, 1718
"O breathe on me" vs "Breathe on me"
These are variations of the same text, the additional "O" is used in some tunes where it is required (eg ST COLUMBA) but is not required in others (eg TRENTHAM).
Downloads
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Examples
Choir with piano-led accompaniment, live in a church service
Choir with organ, tune CARLISLE
Choir with organ, tune ST COLUMBA
Duet with keyboard-led band, tune ST COLUMBA, professional recording
Singer with band, tune TRENTHAM
Choir unaccompanied, with words on-scree, professional recording, tune TRENTHAM
Lyrics
Traditional language
O breathe on me, O Breath of God,Fill me with life anew,
That I may love what thou dost love,
And do what thou wouldst do.
O breath on me, O Breath of God,
Until my heart is pure;
Until with thee I will one will,
To do and to endure.
O breath on me, O Breath of God,
Till I am wholly thine, Till all this earthly part of me
Glows with thy fire divine.
O breath on me, O Breath of God,
So I shall never die.
But live with thee the perfect life,
Of thine eternity.
Modernized version
(this is used in the sheet music and slides)O breathe on me, O Breath of God,
Fill me with life anew,
That I may love the things you love,
And do what you would do.
O breath on me, O Breath of God,
Until my heart is pure;
Until my will is one with yours,
To do and to endure.
O breath on me, O Breath of God,
My will to yours incline,
Until this selfish part of me
Glows with your fire divine.
O breath on me, O Breath of God,
So I shall never die.
But live with you the perfect life,
For all eternity.
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