Religious Rock Top Ten: Morning Has Broken (#4)
By Four Walls
@FourWalls (67703)
United States
November 28, 2022 10:54am CST
Back to work! No, don’t do that, that’s what Cyber Monday is for. 
I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving weekend here in America. I’m continuing to celebrate the religious nature of the holidays (Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas) with this look at hits that had a religious theme. Here’s today’s song.
#4: Morning Has Broken - Cat Stevens
Only in the 70s could you have someone record a hymn, release it as a single, and have it make the charts! That’s exactly what Cat Stevens did.
“Morning Has Broken” dates to 1931…the lyrics, anyway. The melody is a Scottish melody called “Bunessan,” and it’s also the melody for the Christmas carol “Child in the Manger.”
This song is basically Stevens and Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman. That’s his gorgeous piano playing throughout the song. It became a top ten hit throughout the world when released in early 1972.
It’s still a beautiful reminder of “God’s re-creation of the new day.”
Morning Has Broken
Lyrics by Eleanor Farjeon, traditional melody
Adapted by Cat Stevens
Recorded by Cat Stevens
From Teaser and the Firecat, 1971
Praise for the singing:
I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving weekend here in America. I’m continuing to celebrate the religious nature of the holidays (Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas) with this look at hits that had a religious theme. Here’s today’s song.
#4: Morning Has Broken - Cat Stevens
Only in the 70s could you have someone record a hymn, release it as a single, and have it make the charts! That’s exactly what Cat Stevens did.
“Morning Has Broken” dates to 1931…the lyrics, anyway. The melody is a Scottish melody called “Bunessan,” and it’s also the melody for the Christmas carol “Child in the Manger.”
This song is basically Stevens and Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman. That’s his gorgeous piano playing throughout the song. It became a top ten hit throughout the world when released in early 1972.
It’s still a beautiful reminder of “God’s re-creation of the new day.”
Morning Has Broken
Lyrics by Eleanor Farjeon, traditional melody
Adapted by Cat Stevens
Recorded by Cat Stevens
From Teaser and the Firecat, 1971
Praise for the singing:
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16 people like this
16 responses
@spiderdust (14761)
• San Jose, California
30 Nov 22
We used to sing this in the interfaith choir I was involved with a few years ago.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (67703)
• United States
1 Dec 22
It’s a great song for singing in an interfaith setting.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (67703)
• United States
1 Dec 22
@spiderdust — shape note singing is AMAZING!!!!! Maybe a “lost art,” but a beautiful one!
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1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14761)
• San Jose, California
1 Dec 22
@FourWalls We also sang "Here Comes The Sun" and George Harrison's "My Sweet Lord", plus a few shape note hymns that I really liked. I do miss that choir.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (35549)
•
28 Nov 22
Enjoyed the backstory on this tune! Rick Wakeman, wow! I think my sweet George would agree, this is an awesome tune 
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (67703)
• United States
29 Nov 22
Can you see Wakeman in his cape showing up for the session? 
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (67703)
• United States
3 Dec 22
@dgobucks226 — look at Jimmy Page. He did session work for Brenda Lee, Tom Jones, and Lulu!
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (35549)
•
3 Dec 22
@FourWalls That would be quite a session I believe the group "Yes" was the first concert I attended. Funny how musicians with a totally different style of playing wind up doing session work for certain artists. Guess it pays the bills!
I believe the group "Yes" was the first concert I attended. Funny how musicians with a totally different style of playing wind up doing session work for certain artists. Guess it pays the bills!1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (89832)
• Arvada, Colorado
28 Nov 22
A most lovely song Four Walls. I remember it well and the time of my youth.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (89832)
• Arvada, Colorado
30 Nov 22
@FourWalls No not really Four Walls. Yes we were blessed to live then.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (67703)
• United States
1 Dec 22
@RebeccasFarm — a truly remarkable time for music.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (67703)
• United States
29 Nov 22
One of the reasons why we boast about that era of music. Could you see this being a hit today?!
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (67703)
• United States
28 Nov 22
I think so, because some people might not know it’s a hymn!
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (82690)
• United States
28 Nov 22
@FourWalls I didn't realize it was a hymn so I'm "some people"
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (67703)
• United States
28 Nov 22
@Marilynda1225 — one of the many functions I perform here.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (67703)
• United States
29 Nov 22
I’m thinking you won’t know the #1 song only because it wasn’t a “big hit.”
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339433)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Nov 22
@FourWalls Bring it on! I'm on a roll.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (177898)
• United States
29 Nov 22
I didn't know that I knew this song until I played it. Didn't know it was a hymn. Hope you have a marvelous day!
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (67703)
• United States
30 Nov 22
I had a terrific day, and I’m glad you know it!
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (177898)
• United States
2 Dec 22
@FourWalls That's great to hear!!!!!
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (47256)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
28 Nov 22
Yup, lovely song.
Are ya gonna spend Hanukkah in Santa Monica?
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (67703)
• United States
29 Nov 22
I’d prefer Key West but that doesn’t rhyme.
And no Yom Kippur in Mississipper either! 1 person likes this
@FourWalls (67703)
• United States
4 Dec 22
And it is indeed wonderful music they should be introduced to!
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (79648)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
28 Nov 22
One of the most lovely songs ever, Always made me tear up in the mornings when I heard it and always reminds me of walking in my garden barefoot in the morning due in the summer back in Latvia.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (67703)
• United States
29 Nov 22
The magic of music to do that!! This is such a stunning song.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
28 Nov 22
I actually like religious rock
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (67703)
• United States
29 Nov 22
Folk music was quite popular in the 60s and 70s so it was a natural to be popular.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (67703)
• United States
28 Nov 22
Truly lovely song. Cat’s voice is perfect for the song.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
28 Nov 22
@FourWalls Totally agree about his voice.
1 person likes this
@Beestring (14519)
• Hong Kong
29 Nov 22
This is a great song. One of my favorites.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (67703)
• United States
29 Nov 22
It’s so beautiful. Glad you enjoyed hearing it again.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (67703)
• United States
28 Nov 22
You are pulling my leg!!! And on a Monday after a four-day weekend?????
2 people like this
@arunima25 (87771)
• Bangalore, India
29 Nov 22
Just enjoyed the song. Thanks for sharing it.
Happy holidays there 
1 person likes this
