Religious Rock Top Ten: Morning Has Broken (#4)

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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: