Breathe on Me, Breath of God
Within some fellowships, hymns about the Holy Spirit are sorely lacking. This is one that has had staying power. Note the lovely descending tenor line in the tune TRENTHAM that is generally paired with this hymn.
Original lyrics:
Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Fill me with life anew,
That I may love what THOU DOST love,
And do what THOU WOULDST do.
Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Until my heart is pure,
Until with THEE I will one will,
To do and to endure.
Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Till I am wholly THINE,
Till all this earthly part of me
Glows with THY fire divine.
Breathe on me, Breath of God,
So shall I never die,
But live with THEE the perfect life
Of THINE eternity.
Lyrics by Edwin Hatch
Comments and Suggestions:
The alternate for v.4 addresses the possible interim rhyme shift since 1878 between “die” and “eterniTY,” and restores a rhyme for modern singers. (Whether v.4 rhymed for singers even as first published or was always more of a eye/sight rhyme is beyond the ken of this writer.) “Ever be” has the further advantage of being more accurate in that most Christians, like Jesus, CAN expect to die at least in a human sense, but can also expect to then live on.
Renewal lyrics:
Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Fill me with life anew,
That I may love what YOU WOULD love,
And do what YOU WOULD do.
Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Until my heart is pure,
Until with YOU I will one will,
To do and to endure.
Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Till I YOUR ALL ENSHRINE,
Till all this earthly part of me
Glows with YOUR fire divine.
Breathe on me, Breath of God,
So shall I never die,
But live with YOU the perfect life
Of YOUR eternity.
-- OR —
Breathe on me, Breath of God,
So I SHALL EVER BE,
AND live with YOU the perfect life
Of YOUR eternity.
Renewal lyric changes by RH Reinhard (c) 2014