Morning has broken

by Eleanor Farjeon

Morning has broken, like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for the springing fresh from the word

Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from heaven
Like the first dewfall, 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

You might think that this song was written by Cat Stevens, who popularized it song in the early 1970's; but he did not. Actually, the song was written in 1931 by the prolific writer
Eleanor Farjeon and the tune is a Scottish Gaelic Christmas carol that originally carried the lyrics, "child in the manger, infant of Mary". In 1961, Floyd Cramer, who was a pianist who played on many of Elvis Presley's records, including "Heartbreak Hotel"; recorded "Morning Has Broken", with the familiar piano melody, of which Rick Wakeman played, with his own flair, uncredited, on Cat Stevens 1971 recording.


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