You probably know the tune. It’s that rolling, pastoral piano melody that feels like a sunrise in a bottle. But honestly, most people get the history of the words to the song morning has broken completely backwards. They think it’s a Cat Stevens original. It isn't. Not even close.
The lyrics actually predate the 1970s folk-pop era by decades. They were written by an English woman named Eleanor Farjeon in 1931. She wasn't trying to write a radio hit. She was writing for a hymn book called Songs of Praise. The editors needed a poem to fit a specific Gaelic melody known as "Bunessan." Farjeon sat down, looked at the world around her, and penned a poem about the second day of creation. It’s simple. It’s vivid. And it almost disappeared into the dusty shelves of church pews before a chance encounter in a bookshop changed everything.
Where the Words to the Song Morning Has Broken Actually Came From
Eleanor Farjeon was a prolific writer of children's stories and poems. She had this knack for capturing wonder without being cheesy. When she wrote the words to the song morning has broken, she was specifically asked to write something that thanked God for "each new day."
She leaned heavily into imagery.
- The "blackbird."
- The "wet garden."
- The "sprung in completeness."
It’s meant to feel fresh. Like the world just stopped being blurry. The poem was published in 1931, set to that Scottish tune from the Isle of Mull. For forty years, it stayed a relatively obscure hymn. You’d hear it in British primary schools or small village churches. It was "church music." Then came 1971.
Cat Stevens—now Yusuf Islam—was looking for material for his album Teaser and the Firecat. He found the hymn in a book. He liked the lyrics, but the rhythm of a traditional hymn didn't quite fit the folk-rock vibe of the early 70s. He struggled with it. He actually needed help to make those words work for a modern audience. That’s where Rick Wakeman comes in. Yes, the legendary keyboardist from the prog-rock band Yes.
Wakeman is the one who wrote that iconic piano opening. He took Farjeon's words and gave them a heartbeat. Without that specific piano arrangement, the words to the song morning has broken might never have reached the Billboard charts. It reached number six on the US Billboard Hot 100. A hymn. In the middle of the era of Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones.
✨ Don't miss: Cuba Gooding Jr OJ: Why the Performance Everyone Hated Was Actually Genius
Breaking Down the Meaning of the Lyrics
If you look closely at the stanzas, Farjeon wasn't just talking about a nice Tuesday morning. She was referencing the Book of Genesis.
The first verse is about the "first morning." It’s the idea of the world being brand new every single time the sun comes up. "Praise for the singing / Praise for the morning / Praise for them springing fresh from the Word." That "Word" is a direct theological reference to the Logos, the creative force in Christian tradition.
The second verse shifts to the sensory details of the earth. "Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from heaven." It’s very tactile. You can almost smell the damp grass.
Then the third verse ties it all together. "Mine is the sunlight / Mine is the morning." This is where the song gets personal. It’s not just about a general creation; it’s about the individual’s connection to it. "God's recreation of the new day." Farjeon was a master of making the massive feel intimate.
Why People Often Misinterpret the Song
A lot of people think the song is a generic "nature" song. It gets played at weddings, funerals, and graduations. People see it as a celebration of the environment. While that’s part of it, the original intent of the words to the song morning has broken was deeply spiritual.
There's also a common misconception that Cat Stevens wrote the music. He didn't. He adapted the melody of "Bunessan," which was a traditional melody used for a completely different hymn about Mary (the mother of Jesus) called "Child in the Manger."
🔗 Read more: Greatest Rock and Roll Singers of All Time: Why the Legends Still Own the Mic
It’s a bit of a musical Frankenstein.
- Ancient Scottish melody.
- 1930s English poem.
- 1970s pop-rock arrangement.
- Prog-rock piano flourishes.
Somehow, it works. It shouldn't, but it does.
The Rick Wakeman Controversy (Sorta)
There’s a bit of "inside baseball" drama regarding this song. Rick Wakeman was brought in as a session musician. He was paid a flat fee—reportedly about £9—for his work on the track. He didn't get a writing credit at the time.
For years, people assumed Stevens wrote the piano parts. Wakeman has been vocal in interviews about how he felt he contributed significantly to the song's identity. He eventually released his own instrumental versions of the track to claim his space in its history. It’s a classic example of how the "words" of a song are only half the battle; the "voice" of the instrument matters just as much.
Fun Facts You Probably Didn't Know
- The Blackbird Connection: Farjeon lived in Hampstead, London. Many believe the "blackbird" mentioned in the lyrics was inspired by the birds in her own garden.
- Royal Connection: The song was performed at the funeral of Princess Diana in 1997. It has this strange ability to be both happy and incredibly somber.
- The Title: The title isn't actually "Morning Has Broken." That's just the first line. In the original Songs of Praise, it was just Hymn 30.
- The "Word": In the lyrics, "Word" is capitalized. Most modern lyric websites miss this. It changes the meaning from a spoken word to a divine presence.
How to Properly Use the Lyrics Today
If you’re planning to use the words to the song morning has broken for a project or a ceremony, keep a few things in mind.
First, the rhythm. Because the lyrics were written for a 3/4 or 9/8 time signature (depending on how you count it), they have a "waltz" feel. If you try to read them as a standard poem, they can feel a bit choppy. They were built to be sung.
💡 You might also like: Ted Nugent State of Shock: Why This 1979 Album Divides Fans Today
Second, consider the context. While it’s a staple in churches, it’s arguably one of the most successful "secular" hymns in history. You can use it in non-religious settings without it feeling forced. It’s a song about renewal. And everyone, regardless of their background, understands the feeling of a fresh start.
Actionable Takeaways for Musicians and Writers
If you are a performer looking to cover this or a writer looking to reference it:
- Respect the phrasing. Farjeon used very specific line breaks. "Morning has broken / Like the first morning." Don't rush the transition between those two lines. The comparison is the whole point.
- Acknowledge the source. If you’re printing the lyrics in a program, credit Eleanor Farjeon. Cat Stevens made it famous, but Farjeon gave it its soul.
- The Melody is Key. If you’re playing it, remember the "Bunessan" roots. It’s a folk tune. It should feel earthy, not overly polished.
The words to the song morning has broken remind us that nothing is truly new, yet everything can feel that way. It’s a 19th-century melody with a 20th-century poem that became a 21st-century classic. That’s a lot of weight for a song about a blackbird and some rain.
Next time you hear it, listen for the "wet garden." Look for the "sprung in completeness." There is a reason this song hasn't faded away like so many other 1970s hits. It’s because the words aren't just about a morning in 1931 or 1971. They’re about every morning.
To dig deeper into the actual sheet music or the original hymnody, look for the Songs of Praise archives or the English Hymnal. You'll find that the history of music is often just a long chain of people borrowing beauty from the past and polishing it for the present.
Check the copyright status if you're using it for commercial purposes. While the melody is traditional and public domain, the specific lyrics by Eleanor Farjeon are still under copyright in many jurisdictions, as she passed away in 1965. Usually, copyright lasts 70 years after the author's death, so 2035 is the magic year for the words themselves to enter the public domain in the UK and much of Europe. Plan accordingly.