Today’s post was written by Paul.
I learned the song “Morning Has Broken” from Cat Stevens, but the song goes much farther back than him.
Stevens hit the charts with this song in 1972, reaching number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 1 on the US Easy Listening Charts. I was born in 1974.
Back then it often took a few years for popular songs and movies to reach our area. I have no specific memory of hearing this song as a toddler, but somehow it was partially embedded in the deep recesses of my memory. When I reached teen years and began to care about music, I would sometimes have little fragments of the melody faintly teasing at my mind, like there was some song that I was trying to remember but couldn’t. The best thing I can compare the feeling to is deja vu. By that time, Stevens’ fame had long faded; I knew nothing about him, and no one was playing this song.
I like a lot of different kinds of music, but my favorite music has always been melodies that are beautiful with a poignant depth to them, despite being simple, almost like lullabies. I think that’s why this melody haunted me for years.
One morning, Pap and I were up before daylight. He was getting ready for work, and I was getting ready for school. Instead of the typical early morning TV shows, some random show came on with a guy riding on a slow, old timey train through the country. He was smiling and looking around him. Seems like he might have said, “good morning” once to the camera. As the train was traveling, this melody was playing on an organ. I ran into the living room and pointed at the TV. I said, “It’s that old song that I’ve been trying to think of! What is it?” Pap said, “What song? I don’t know that song.”
I couldn’t explain to Pap how it could be a song I really liked yet didn’t know. Pap kind of shrugged and went to shave. A few days later, I was down at my cousin Gail’s house, talking with her family. I said, “Hey, Gail, do you know what this song is?” and I hummed the first part of the tune. Gail is my Uncle Ray’s oldest daughter (sister to Maria, who you’ve seen in some of my recent videos). Gail is a piano player and used to play some easy listening stuff on her piano. She’s about 9 years older than I am. She said, “Yeah, that’s ‘Morning Has Broken.'” I asked her more questions and found out that a guy named Cat Stevens sang it. I didn’t get to hear Stevens’ recording of it until many years later when I first got internet at my house.
Before iTunes, there was a site called RealPlayer.com where you could download music. Instead of MP4’s, the music downloads were full quality, as good as owning the CD or record. I found the song on there and downloaded it. I probably listened to it a thousand times in my truck. The piano playing is incredibly beautiful. You can hear it here.
I played it for Pap and he loved it too. He eventually started singing the song as a solo in church and around the house. He sung it in E, much higher than I sang it in the video I’m sharing today. Unfortunately, we never tried to sing it together.
Eleanor Farjeon composed the lyrics to this song, and it was published in a 1931 hymnal. Stevens found an old copy of the hymnal in a book store in England. The song was set to an old Scottish Gaelic tune called “Bunnesan.” Farjeon wrote the song to celebrate God as creator and the rebirth that happens on Earth every morning.
In the video, I sang two of the final lines incorrectly. I should have sung “praise every morning” and “God’s recreation of the first day,” rather than “new” day.
Around five or six years ago, Ms. Cindy bought a Cat Stevens LP for me that she found at a thrift store. Though the album didn’t have “Morning Has Broken,” it listed all the musicians who played on the album.
I saw that a French guy (with a huge afro) played the piano on that record (named Jean Roussel). Excitedly, I searched for him on YouTube and found that he has a channel. He’s very good, but on his channel, he speaks almost exclusively French, and his playing style seemed different than the piano on “Morning Has Broken.”
In preparation for uploading this video, I searched online and found that Rick Wakeman played the piano on the song and that he had a lot to do with the arrangement of the song. I like it better than any piano playing I’ve ever heard. I can only describe it as cascading.
In the recording, the song changes keys multiple times from C to D, and to me, it’s the most seamless and perfect key change ever executed, both going to D and coming back to C. Each time it comes back, the piano slows ever so slightly then stops, holding the note/chord. Stevens then resumes his vocal for each verse. I was saddened to read that Wakeman wasn’t even credited on the record, though he had a huge hand in making it into a masterpiece. His pay was only ten pounds! Wakeman and Stevens were British musicians. Even worse, the record company didn’t pay him! Despite not being given credit, Wakeman said he’s glad he played on the record because it brings people closer to God.
Hope you enjoyed the video!
Paul
Original singles released on Spotify.
Shepherd of My Soul (Album released in 2016).
The Wilson Brothers Words of Life Album released in the 70s.
This has been one of my favorites since I first heard Cat Steven sing it when I was in my 20’s. I never heard it played in church or in a religious context but have always thought it should have been. Thanks for the information on its origins.
Beautiful! Love Cat Steven’s back in the day. I believe Father & Son was the first of his songs I heard. Love how you chased this song through the years.
Thank you Paul for sharing that wonderful story. It reminds me of how stressful it would be when I would be out and about and hear a great song for the first time, back before I had a smartphone where it could tell me exactly what song it was. I’m very glad your cousin could identify it.
If you love Rick Wakeman’s playing on the song, he has a piano instrumental version of it that is really beautiful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VebVIXSQFC0
I turned to the Rick Wakeman’s piano rendition, and it was so beautiful. Thanks for the lead.
Cat Stevens was on CBS NEWS SUNDAY MORNING yesterday!!!
He has always been a favorite of mine.
I, also, learned it from Cat Stevens. When I joined the Episcopal Church, lo and behold, there it is in the hymn book! We sing it during the Easter season.
I’m an Episcopalian, and I am so glad it is in our hymnal.
I loved the song too. I was a freshman, 13, when I heard it. Featured on the classic ‘Teaser and the Firecat’ album, Morning Has Broken was adapted from a traditional hymn with words by Eleanor Farjeon. Here is the link on Cat Stevens’ youtube channel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmAOBosGlHY
Love this song and your version of it!
I remember him singing that song as well as Peace Train. 🙂 I loved your background and history of the song. Thanks for the blog!!
If you like Steven Curtis Chapman, this is a nice acoustic version. Idk if this link will work. If not, try to copy and paste into YouTube browser.
https://youtu.be/CX0kmvKTsJM?si=wF5fQjpQpcPM0B1u
I love this song as sung and “picked” by Paul. In 1983 I introduced it to our song leader in our church. Thanks for sharing it as I begin this beautiful Sunday morning.
What memories that song gives me. You were great on the song. In about 1975 I got to see Cat Steven’s in Atlanta.
About 5 years ago a friend of mine passed away. He was a musician his whole life and played with the same group of friends for 50 years. They played a recording he had made for his Mother at his funeral. He Mom had ask him to play it at her funeral when she died. He told her he wouldn’t be able to but he could record it to be played at her funeral. Their wasn’t a dry eye in the crowd when it was played at his funeral.
Thanks for the memories!
Always enjoy you Sunday posts
I too loved Cat Steven’s recording, but the beautiful song was a beloved church hymn long before that.
I remember listening to this on the radio and thinking it was wonderful. It seems to have been forgotten but today listening to you-it has not been forgotten for sure. You did it justice, sang it with feeling and I can tell you really loved this song. I had it saved on rerun when you first posted the YT and now I hear – the rest of the story. Learned so much and enjoyed reading the comments, also. Your guitar played music to my heart this morning. I went out and walked in my garden to enjoy the moment fully. THANK YOU!
Beautiful!!!
I didn’t think I knew of a Cat Stevens. I looked him up in Wikipedia and still didn’t recognize him. I would have been 22 in 1972 when he sang the song. If he had taken the song that far up in the charts why would I never have heard of him?
I do know the song, however. Where I learned it, I cannot say, but I am reasonable sure it wasn’t via Cat Stevens. If it were someone named Cat it surely would have stuck in my muddled mind.
I’ve been singing that song a long long time. How I added it to my repertoire I’m not sure, maybe from the same songbook that Cat Stevens lifted it. I like songs played in C Major, maybe that attracted me, I don’t presently know. Maybe I’ll remember later.
A beautiful song to begin this beautiful Sunday morning. Thank you, Paul for blessing us with these songs each Sunday morning.
Always liked this song. Our Methodist church had a long standing Easter sunrise service at a local state park,Buck’s Pocket, here in NE AL. One year a teenage member played this on her flute for part of our service. That was over 30 years ago and people that were there still talk about the touch of what Easter represents that morning.
this had me gobsmacked! i was in college in 1972, but i can confidently say that cat stevens’ song—and stevens himself—was so firmly embedded in 70s culture it would have been akin to not ever knowing who the beatles were! thank you for reminding me that “our” world is not “the” world! (we knew it was not a new song, btw, it was familiar to me before this megahit. it was a time when lots of singers recorded old songs; judy collins comes to mind, or art garfunkel’s lush strings barbara allen ( https://youtu.be/BxQdl9cP3e0?si=6HnIuAMrWXI87rmD ) joan baez’ whole pre-dylan career was made up of such songs.)
Morning has broken! Thank you for sharing such a perfect song for this Sunday morning! May you & Granny have a peaceful, gentle day Paul. Blessings to you and all the family.
Paul, I enjoyed your version of this pretty melody and have a new appreciation for it. I do remember it from my younger years. I like hearing the guitar as you played it so well. I think it would make for a lovely lullaby. Thank you sharing your talent.
Morning has Broken is a beautiful song, it was the first song that made me aware of Cat Stevens. I first heard it off of one of those K-Tel compilation albums of hits that use to be sold back in the 70’s and 80’s that were advertised on TV. Man, that was a long time ago and shows my age!!
I enjoyed Cat Stevens songs and especially Morning Has Broken. It was a Quaker hymn originally as was another song from the 70’s, Simple Gifts, which was recorded by Judy Collins. Both are hauntingly beautiful. Loved Paul’s version of Morning Has Broken. R
My word, Paul, what a back story. I recall hearing this song around the time Cat made it popular. But whether I was hearing him I don’t know. I did not know, and would not have guessed, it was originally a hymn; much less that it was newer lyrics to an even older tune. The things you know! This post also reminds me of the gospel song “Joy in the Morning”. We have one more day of grace. Speaking of which, Mr. Wakeman was very gracious and giving and for the best of reasons. I think a good descriptive phrase for him would be “strong in spirit”.
Have always enjoyed this song. You do it well. Thank you on this Sunday morning.
Thanks, Paul for this story. Being much older than you, Cat Stevens was one of my favorite rock singers back in my youth. I have a CD of his greatest hits. It wasn’t until recently that I found out this melody and lyrics were not original to him. I did some research and found this on Wikipedia. It was so interesting that I shared it with my pastor. He too didn’t know the origins of the song. here’s the link. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morning_Has_Broken. I love this song and its history. I find it ironic that Stevens recorded this Christian hymn but after he recorded it, he converted to Islam. He is now known as Yusuf Islam. Thanks again for putting the story out.
That’s so interesting Paul, thanks for the deep dive into the song. I am a huge Yes fan but never knew about Rick Wakeman’s connection to “morning has broken”.
I love this song and enjoy Cat Stevens! That was a popular song when I was young. I’m a child of the 60s. It was a good time to grow up, but not without its hardships too. Thank you for sharing! Lovely
Debbie, if you look at my comment and do the math, you will see I was born in 1954. The time we grew up in was so much better and more innocent than today. Yes my parents, along with a lot of others faced a lot of hardships, many of them financial. In high school, one of my great fears was Vietnam especially after my cousin was killed. Many of us boys knew where we going on our senior trip. For many boys like me CCR’s song Fortunate Son said it all.
Paul I love this song because in 1972 I had already graduated from college, gotten married, and was managing grocery stores. The first time I heard this song was on the radio when it became a hit and have heard it song in almost every church I have belonged to from New Hampshire to Hawaii to Florida to North Carolina. Great song. But do you know the rest of the story.
In 1977 Cat Stevens converted to Islam and became Yusuf and studied the religion for the rest of his life. I remember when he was on his way from Europe by jet and was refused entry into the USA because he was deemed a “terrorist” by his association with other Muslims.
When he returned to music in the 2000s he performed under the name Yusuf/Cat Stevens.
And as Paul Harvey would say “that is th rest of the story.” One of the most beautiful songs sung in almost every Christian place of worship was made famous by a man who turned to Islam.
Thank you Paul for for music and your explanation, in depth, of the songs you play and sing. What a blessing you have to have sung and played with your father, your uncles, your sister, your nieces , and especially Granny. Those recordings are gold as the years past.
I’ve gone on long enough, now it’s time to hear you play “Morning Has Broken.”
Bless you.
I remember when this song was on the radio. I never really listened to the words but I really enjoyed the music. You did a great job playing and singing “Morning Has Broken”, Paul.
Just the way to start this Sunday morning!!! Thanks for sharing the history of Morning Has Broken. That makes it even more beautiful.
God bless each of you and special prayers for Granny.
Thanks, Paul. I’ve always loved this song, too. Cascading is a perfect description of the piano here. Have a great week! Hope you’re enjoying your retirement!
Paul, you wrote you were born in 1974, on this day in 1974 I was 20 years old, making plans to marry the love of my life in 3 weeks (26) and thought and felt like I had the world by the tail. Today I sometimes wonder if I am even surviving. I remember Cat Steven’s and this song. I do not listen to any of today’s music, the radios in the vehicles I drive are turned off. I only enjoy listening to the music of the 50, 60’s and early 70’s- both country or what was once called rock and roll. For me, there has never been a more beautiful love song or better harmony than Paul and Gracie singing “ I’m Leaving It Up to You.” I do like listening to the old time gospel hymns. I enjoy listening to you and Pap singing these hymns and recently learned of a Mennonite family that sings these old hymns I enjoy.
I have the names wrong, it should be Dale and Grace.