Thou art my Life

General information

Lyricist: Francis Quarles

Settings by composers

• John Dowland SATB
• William D. Thompson SATB

Texts and Translations

English text

1  Thou art my life; if Thou but turn away,
My life’s a thousand deaths: Thou art my way;
Without Thee, Lord, I travel not, but stray.

2  My light Thou art; without Thy glorious sight
My eyes are darkened with perpetual night:
My God, Thou art my way, my life, my light.

3  Thou art my way; I wander, if Thou fly:
Thou art my light: if hid how blind am I!
Thou art my life: if Thou withdraw, I die.

4  Disclose Thy sunbeams; close Thy wings and stay;
See, see how I am blind, and dead, and stray,
O Thou that art my light, my life, my way!