This post is several years old, but as I read it now, it still applies today just as strongly.
This post is from the Putting on the New archives. Enjoy.
It’s funny how someone can cover an old song and make it entirely new for you. This is what has happened with the song “Morning Has Broken.” In fact, it’s become a sort-of anthem for me.
Since I grew up in the 70s, I’d heard Cat Stevens‘ version of the song several times, and I did like it. But I didn’t get the full meaning of the song. It was just a really nice song.
Fast forward to a few months ago when I picked up Third Day‘s album Miracle
The lyrics have been highlighted for me in this version, to the point where I am filled with joy at the vision of what this song really means. I can picture:
“Sweet the rain’s new fall, sunlight from heaven.
Like the first dewfall, on the first grass.
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden,
Sprung in completeness where His feet pass.”
and I actually get shivers at the thought of that very first morning ever “where His feet pass.” There are times when I hear this song that I get tears in my eyes. It is so moving to me.
I had to do some digging (because I really didn’t know if Cat Stevens wrote the song or what) and found (on Wikipedia, so take it with a grain of salt) that it was a Christian hymn from 1931.
It’s funny because when I first listened to the whole album, I thought, Morning Has Broken? What a dumb song to end the album on. I’m such a cynic. Then I heard it, and I couldn’t stop listening. It’s become a way to get connected to the right frame of mind for me, to meditate on, almost like a prayer.
I’ll end with these words from the song:
“Praise with elation, praise every morning;
God’s recreation of the new day.”
