Cat Stevens - Morning Has Broken (Grand Piano: Rick Wakeman)

A popular and well-known Christian hymn first published in 1931. It has words by English author Eleanor Farjeon and is set to a traditional Gaelic tune known as “Bunessan“ (it shares this tune with the 19th century Christmas Carol “Child in the Manger“). This is the most beautiful song ever written and published as a pop song, my favorite, which in my opinion, makes us closer to God and its true Paradise. Wakeman’s Grand Piano arrangements and its initial musical verse is totally inspired (he follows the Christian faith), and Cat’s inspiration (he was converted to the Muslim faith) and voice is beyond a simple pop song, closer to heaven indeed. Both artists have developed a kind of art, where God is in the center of their music, playing often “music for God“. According Wikipedia, when shaping “Morning Has Broken“ for recording, Stevens had to start with a hymn which took around 45 seconds to sing in its basic form. Producer Paul Samwell-Smith told him he could never put something like that on an album, and that it needed to be at least three minutes in length, although an acoustic demo exists of Stevens playing an early version which lasts almost three to the actual recording Stevens heard Wakeman play something in the recording booth. It was a rough sketch of what would later become “Catherine Howard“. Stevens told Wakeman that he liked it and wanted something similar as the opening section, the closing section and, if possible, a middle section as well. Wakeman told Stevens he could not as it was his piece destined for a solo album, but Stevens persuaded him to adapt his composition.[5] The familiar piano intro and general structure of the piece may be attributed to Stevens or to Wakeman. The Poem: 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, sunlit 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 Credits: Lyrics: Eleanor Farjeon (1930) Music (Trad. song called “Bunessan“): (1900) Voice, Guitar & Arrangement: Cat Stevens (1971) Additional music & Grand Piano: Rick Wakeman (1971)