Morning Has Broken by Cat Stevens Lyrics Meaning – Unveiling the Dawn of a New Epoch
Lyrics
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
The gentle piano chords that open Cat Stevens’s ‘Morning Has Broken’ seem to announce the dawn of a new day with a reflective but optimistic tone. The song, a reverent hymn of praise and renewal, takes listeners on a journey from the first light of dawn to the sun’s full embrace.
Exploring the song’s lyrics unearths a rich tapestry of meaning, a seamless blend of the spiritual and the natural world. Despite its simplicity, Stevens’s melody carries a potent message which has resonated with listeners since the song’s release in 1971.
The Essence of New Beginnings in Every Verse
From the very first line, ‘Morning has broken like the first morning,’ there’s an immediate sensation of freshness, an invocation of the creation story itself. Cat Stevens taps into the universal feeling of witnessing the start of something new — as if each day were the first day on Earth.
The lyrics go on to praise this sense of newness, drawing parallels to the biblical ‘firsts’ — the first morning, the first bird, and the untouched creation of Eden. He prompts us to see the ordinary in an extraordinary light, coaxing us to appreciate the daily rebirth of our surroundings.
A Blackbird’s Anthem: The Power of Simplicity
When Stevens refers to the ‘Blackbird,’ it is not just a nod to the songbird’s early morning calls; it is an alignment with nature’s innate beauty and simplicity. The blackbird is the central figure that starts the symphony of life, encouraging all of creation to awaken with its song.
Through this imagery, Stevens suggests that beauty and divinity can be found in life’s simplest moments. The act of a single bird speaking — singing, even — echoes the idea that each voice, no matter how small, has the potential to inspire praise and joy.
Unearthing the Sacred: The Song’s Hidden Spiritual Layer
While ‘Morning Has Broken’ can be enjoyed as a song of appreciating nature’s beauty, it’s impossible to ignore the deeper spiritual connotations woven into its verses. Stevens, who later embraced Islam and changed his name to Yusuf Islam, is known for his spiritual quests, which often surface in his music.
The song seamlessly juxtaposes natural beauty with spiritual fervor, as if capturing the perfect blend between earthly existence and heavenly wonder. It encourages the listener to find spiritual significance in the natural cycles, fostering a sense of gratitude towards the divine.
Elation in Eden: Revisiting the Garden with Each Sunrise
Stevens’s phrase ‘Born of the One Light Eden saw play’ is a poetic testament to the original light — perhaps grace itself — that bathed the Garden of Eden. That same light is reimagined with every sunrise, an opportunity to experience a slice of paradise.
By claiming the sunlight and morning as his own, Stevens personalizes the spiritual experience of the dawn. In doing so, he encourages each listener to claim their part in the recreation of the new day, to seek their own Eden with every waking moment.
The Symphony of Memorable Lines: Connecting with the Listener
Perhaps one of the most memorable aspects of ‘Morning Has Broken’ is its lyrical structure — simple, profound, and cyclical. Each verse is a hymn, and each refrain a celebration, with lines designed to stay with the listener long after the song concludes.
The repetition of ‘Praise for the singing, praise for the morning’ creates a mantra of gratitude that’s both grounding and transcendent. These lyrics instill a meditative quality in the song, cultivating a spiritual mantra that listeners can carry with them throughout their days.
