Morning Has Broken

On November 13, 2012November 13, 2012 By Sherna BhumgaraIn Music, Nature

The Beauty of a Garden in the Morning

The Biblical Garden of Eden

Cat Stevens – “Morning Has Broken”

“Morning Has Broken” – Cat Stevens

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, sunlight 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.

“Morning Has Broken” is a popular and well-known Christian hymn first published in 1931. The words of this hymn were written by the British author, Eleanor Farjeon and it was set originally to a traditional Gaelic tune known as ‘Bunessan.’ It shares this tune with the 19th century Christmas Carol “Child in the Manger.” It is often sung in children’s services. The song became identified with the English pop musician and folk singer, Cat Stevens, when he included a version of this hymn in his 1971 album, ” Teaser and the Firecat.” The song went on to become a phenomenal success in the U.S.A. in 1972.

In this hymn, the splendor of the morning is compared to a walk in the sunlight that lights up the exquisite, biblical garden of God – Eden. References to Eden have been found in the Book of Genesis and elsewhere in the Old Testament. The singer is so enchanted by the beauty of each new morning that he feels that each morning when he awakes, it is like his very first morning. The blackbird is one of Britain’s most vocal and most familiar birds. Its loud and beautiful warbling flute-like song can be heard in woodlands, parks and gardens most of the year round. Early morning and evening are usually the best times to hear the male blackbirds at their most lyrical, as they proclaim mates and territories from favored song posts. Each song is often two to three seconds long with a similar interval before the next burst, and is rich and mellow with a languid delivery and fluted quality. Most birds have a wide repertoire of songs and the blackbird is no exception to this rule. In short, each morning can best be described as an unparalleled gift from God – a perfect time to use fruitfully to praise the Lord with prayers and godly ways of Life.

Each morning sees the freshness of the dew-fall on the grass – as if it is a brand-new event that has occurred for the very first time. The sunshine that comes streaming in through the singer’s window, emblazons his garden with a rare beauty and unique quality. The rainfall, in the wee hours of the morning, bring refreshing showers – just as a cool breeze brings relief to a hot and still day.

Of course, there will always be gloomy and dull mornings with cloudy skies and the promise of storms, torrential rain, destruction and with it the feelings of sadness and despair. It is not the beauty of the morning that really matters – it is the fact that you are able to wake up each morning in good health and experience it at all. Be grateful for the joy of each new tomorrow – it could very well be your last. Life is just too short and unpredictable for anything else.

Live for each new tomorrow. Live for each new morning – a morning that spells new joys, new hopes, new dreams and fresh beginnings – it is truly what God, in His Infinite Wisdom, would want you to do!