#42 Morning Has Broken- Cat Stevens

Mine is the sunlight/
Mine is the mornings.

“Morning Has Broken” might be Cat Stevens most famous song, but did you know it is actually a Christian song that he added different words to?

In college I was speaking to a religion professor about Cat Stevens (I don’t know how the topic came up)…I think he was talking about how “Peace Train” had evangelical overtones…it was a long time ago. I told him that “Morning Has Broken” was one of my favorite Cat Stevens songs and he told me that he sings that at church. I was incredulous. “You sing Cat Stevens at church?” “Nope, it was a Christian song first.”

Well, I refused to believe it. The next lecture he brings me a folded-up piece of paper and delivers it to me in front of the whole class. It was a xerox copy of the original song with the copyright. I was stunned. Everyone in class was looking at me as neither of us said a word.

Morning Has Broken Meaning
Cat Stevens

While that discovery was a bit disappointing, you can’t argue that Stevens re-worked “Morning has Broken” made the song into a beautiful, inspired, universal song with corresponding arrangement. The piano part is one of the best, and most recognizable in rock/pop history. Coupled with Steven’s smooth voice and you have an all-time great song. The background singers are used perfectly. Compare their use here compared to a song like Sympathy for the Devil. Sometimes, with background singers, less is more.

Lyrics Morning Has Broken
Morning has broken like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird
Praise for the singing
Praise for the morning
Praise for them springing fresh from the Word

Sweet the rain’s new fall, sunlit from heaven
Like the first dew fall on the first grass
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness where His feet pass

Mine is the sunlight
Mine is the morning
Born of the One Light Eden saw play
Praise with elation, praise every morning
God’s recreation of the new day

Morning has broken like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird
Praise for the singing
Praise for the morning
Praise for them springing fresh from the Word
by Cat Stevens & Eleanor Farjeon

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