Holy Spirit Breathe on Me (until my heart is clean)

This hymn of petition to the Holy Spirit was written in 1937 by American Southern Baptist theologian, pastor, hymn-writer and editor, Baylus Benjamin (BB) McKinney (1886-1952).

It is inspired by John 20:22 (And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit."), and by Edwin Hatch's hymn O Breathe on me O Breath of God.

With meter 7 6 8 6 and refrain, it is set to the tune TRUETT, which was also written by McKinney. This has a 6/4 time signature. In the key of Y, the first few notes are G#FG A_ G_ F E_

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Downloads

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Choral arrangement (SATB) by Keith Christopher. 12 pages

buy and download sheet music from Sheet Music Now

Piano arrangement

Examples

Choir with gentle organ accompaniment:

Singer with piano:

Signer with guitar and fiddle, professional recording:

Duet with piano, recorded in a church service:

Instrumental - piano:

Lyrics

The lyrics are copyright so cannot be reproduced here. But they are currently available on page 2 of this website. A rough outline is:

Holy Spirit, breathe on me,
Until my heart is clean;
Let sunshine fill its inmost part,
With not a cloud between.

Chorus:
Breathe on me, breathe on me,
Holy Spirit, breathe on me;
Take Thou my heart, cleanse every part,
Holy Spirit, breathe on me.

Holy Spirit, breathe on me,
My stubborn will subdue;
Teach me in words of living flame
What Christ would have me do.

Holy Spirit, breathe on me,
Fill me with pow'r divine;
Kindle a flame of love and zeal
Within this heart of mine.

Holy Spirit, breathe on me,
Till I am all Thine own,
Until my will is lost in Thine,
To live for Thee alone.