Cat Stevens - Morning Has Broken Lyrics
Lyrics
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 world
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 world
Video
Yusuf / Cat Stevens – Morning Has Broken (Official Lyric Video)
Meaning & Inspiration
"Morning Has Broken," released by Yusuf / Cat Stevens in its official lyric video form on November 21, 2021, is far more than a simple folk melody; it's a profound meditation on creation and renewal, deeply rooted in a Christian worldview. The song's genesis draws from an early 20th-century hymn, but it's Yusuf's interpretation, infused with his characteristic gentle sincerity, that elevates it into a timeless anthem of gratitude. The narrative woven through the lyrics speaks to the miraculous freshness of each dawning day, likening it to the very first morning described in Genesis. The imagery of the blackbird's song echoing as if for the first time directly evokes the primordial sounds of a newly formed world, a world where every element, from the dewfall on tender grass to the sunlit sweetness of a rain-kissed garden, bursts forth with divine completeness.
The profound spiritual significance of "Morning Has Broken" lies in its explicit acknowledgement of God as the architect of this daily rebirth. The lines "Mine is the sunlight / Mine is the morning / Born of the one light Eden saw play" are a direct echo of the biblical account of Eden, the perfect garden where God walked with humanity in unblemished fellowship. This connection underscores the idea that each new day is not merely a cyclical occurrence but a testament to God's continuous creative power, a "recreation of the new day" that reflects the perfection of that initial creation. The persistent refrain of "Praise for the singing, praise for the morning, praise for them springing fresh from the world" is an invitation to a posture of constant, unadulterated worship. It calls us to recognize the divine hand in the ordinary, to see the extraordinary in the everyday sunrise and the simple chirping of a bird. This perspective aligns with numerous scriptural exhortations to give thanks in all circumstances, such as in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, which states, "give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." The song's message resonates with the Psalms, particularly those that celebrate creation and God's sovereignty, like Psalm 19:1, "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." "Morning Has Broken" encourages a profound awakening of the spirit, reminding us that every sunrise is a fresh opportunity to witness and participate in God's ongoing act of love and creation, a tangible manifestation of His grace continually renewing the earth and, by extension, our souls.