Be Thou My Vision - Why Is It Still Around?

Good songs can last for generations. In the case of the old Irish hymn Be Thou My Vision it has been around for over 1200 years and still new versions keep coming!

It's a traditional Irish Christian hymn, but is now sung in English-speaking churches around the world. In fact it is the world's most popular Irish hymn.

According to Wikipedia it was written by Dallan Forgaill in the 8th century; although the text had been a part of Irish monastic tradition for centuries before the hymn itself was written. It was translated from Old Irish Gaelic into English by Mary E. Byrne in "Eriú", Journal of the School of Irish Learning, in 1905.

I came across a unique version by Andy Rogers from the Causeway Coast of Ireland recently. He did a contemporary guitar driven recording and is giving it away free.

He talks about the amazing responses he has had to the song in such diverse venues as churches, orphanages and even night clubs and bars.

Check out his 'Ethno-Celt' version here: