Vince Gill - Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song) Lyrics
Lyrics
We have traveled many moonless nights
Cold and weary, with a babe inside
And I wonder what I've done
Holy Father you have come
And chosen me now to carry your son.
I am waiting, in a silent prayer
I am troubled, by the load I bear
In a world as cold as stone
Must I walk this path alone
Be with me now, be with me now.
Breath of heaven, hold me together
Be forever near me, breath of heaven
Breath of heaven, lighten my darkness
Pour over me Your holiness, for You are holy
Breath of heaven.
Do you wonder as you watch my face
If a wiser one should have had my place
But I offer all I am for the mercy of Your plan
Help me be strong, help me be, help me.
Breath of heaven, hold me together
Be forever near me, greath of heaven
Breath of heaven, lighten my darkness
Pour over me Your holiness, for You are holy.
Breath of heaven, hold me together
Be forever near me, breath of heaven
Breath of heaven, lighten my darkness
Pour over me Your holiness, for You are holy.
Breath of heaven.
Breath of heaven.
Breath of heaven...
Video
Amy Grant - Breath Of Heaven (Mary's Song) (Lyric Video)
Meaning & Inspiration
While Vince Gill’s rendition of “Breath of Heaven (Mary’s Song)” may have seen a lyric video release in late 2019, its enduring power lies in its profound exploration of faith, vulnerability, and divine trust, a message that resonates deeply with Christian listeners. The song steps directly into the shoes of Mary, the mother of Jesus, during a moment of immense personal burden and profound spiritual responsibility. The narrative doesn't shy away from the human anxieties that would naturally accompany such an extraordinary calling. Mary expresses her weariness from a difficult journey, the weighty presence of the unborn Christ, and a palpable sense of questioning – "And I wonder what I've done," and "Do you wonder as you watch my face / If a wiser one should have had my place?" This honest grappling with inadequacy is profoundly relatable, mirroring the feelings many experience when confronted with God’s seemingly overwhelming plans for their lives.
The song’s core message is a prayer for divine support and empowerment. Mary’s plea, "Breath of heaven, hold me together / Be forever near me," is not a request for an easier path, but for the strength and presence of the Holy Spirit to sustain her through the challenges ahead. This echoes the promise Jesus makes to his disciples in John 14:16, "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to help you and be with you forever." The "Breath of Heaven" is a powerful metaphor for the Holy Spirit, the very force that brings life and sustains it, and Mary’s reliance on this divine breath signifies her complete dependence on God's grace. Her prayer to "lighten my darkness" and for God’s holiness to "pour over me" speaks to the transformative power of God's presence in overcoming fear and doubt, a theme central to the teachings of the Psalms, such as Psalm 119:105, "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path."
The song beautifully articulates the surrender required in God's service. Despite her inner turmoil and perceived shortcomings, Mary offers herself wholly: "But I offer all I am for the mercy of Your plan / Help me be strong, help me be, help me." This act of submission, of laying down personal desires and anxieties to embrace God's will, is a cornerstone of Christian discipleship. It aligns with the sacrificial love and obedience demonstrated by Jesus himself, as well as the example of countless individuals in Scripture who, though imperfect, were used mightily by God because of their willingness to trust and obey. The repeated invocation of "Breath of heaven" throughout the song serves as a constant reminder of the ever-present power and comfort available to those who seek it, offering a beacon of hope and reassurance that no journey, however daunting, is undertaken alone.