Last week gave us the first day of spring. I began looking for a lovely song to celebrate this. One of my favorite spring songs is “Morning Has Broken” as done by Cat Stevens. Often, Cat Stevens is given writing credit. However, the song began its life at least a century before Stevens recorded it.
“Bunessan”
The song’s origins go back well before 1880 when it was translated from the Scots Gaelic into English. Originally, it was written by Mary McDonald as a Christmas carol called “Child in a Manger.” The tune became called “Bunessan” after the village where she lived.
Sometime shortly before 1927, Alexander Fraser(an actor in silent movies) heard the melody and wrote it down. He brought the melody to the composers Martin Shaw and Ralph Vaughan Williams, who were working on a new hymnal. It was they who asked Eleanor Farjeon to write new lyrics for the melody.
Eleanor Farjeon, in case you don't know, was an English poet who lived between 1881 and 1965. She is best known for her children's poetry. My favorite is:
“Bunessan”
The song’s origins go back well before 1880 when it was translated from the Scots Gaelic into English. Originally, it was written by Mary McDonald as a Christmas carol called “Child in a Manger.” The tune became called “Bunessan” after the village where she lived.
Sometime shortly before 1927, Alexander Fraser(an actor in silent movies) heard the melody and wrote it down. He brought the melody to the composers Martin Shaw and Ralph Vaughan Williams, who were working on a new hymnal. It was they who asked Eleanor Farjeon to write new lyrics for the melody.
Eleanor Farjeon, in case you don't know, was an English poet who lived between 1881 and 1965. She is best known for her children's poetry. My favorite is:
A Kitten
He's nothing much but fur
And two round eyes of blue,
He has a giant purr
And a midget mew.
He starts and cocks his ear,
When there is nothing there
For him to see and hear.
He runs around in rings,
But why we cannot tell;
With sideways leaps he springs
At things invisible –
Then halfway through a leap
His startled eyeballs close,
And he drops off to sleep
With one paw on his nose.
He's nothing much but fur
And two round eyes of blue,
He has a giant purr
And a midget mew.
He starts and cocks his ear,
When there is nothing there
For him to see and hear.
He runs around in rings,
But why we cannot tell;
With sideways leaps he springs
At things invisible –
Then halfway through a leap
His startled eyeballs close,
And he drops off to sleep
With one paw on his nose.
To me, this poem defines what a kitten is. But, of course, she is best known for Morning Has Broken. (Which is also what this blog happens to be about.)
Ms. Farjeon wrote Morning Has Brokenabout the beauties of her village in East Sussex in England. It quickly became a popular hymn both for adults and children. However, when most people think of this song, they think of the Cat Stevens version.
Cat Stevens and Rick Wakeman
Cat Stevens had become interested in recording the song, but performance of it only lasted about 45 seconds—far too short for a pop song. Fortunately, he heard someone playing the piano in another studio. That someone was Rick Wakeman. (Rick Wakeman is one of those musicians who has worked with everyone. He is best known as the keyboardist for the group Yes.)
After some persuading, Stevens convinced Wakeman to compose and perform the piano part for “Morning Has Broken.” Part of the agreement included a payment for the huge amount of £10. Wakeman was surprised and upset when the recording came out, and he found that he was given no credit for his work. And they didn't even pay him!
In 1979, Cat Stevens left performing and became a follower of Islam. Not much was heard from him until 2006 when he returned as Yusuf Islam. At this time, he became aware of Wakeman's ill feelings. He has apologized for credit not being given, saying there was confusion on the record label’s part. And he has personally paid Wakeman for his work. I sincerely hope that, at the very least, he included interest on the payment.
Ms. Farjeon wrote Morning Has Brokenabout the beauties of her village in East Sussex in England. It quickly became a popular hymn both for adults and children. However, when most people think of this song, they think of the Cat Stevens version.
Cat Stevens and Rick Wakeman
Cat Stevens had become interested in recording the song, but performance of it only lasted about 45 seconds—far too short for a pop song. Fortunately, he heard someone playing the piano in another studio. That someone was Rick Wakeman. (Rick Wakeman is one of those musicians who has worked with everyone. He is best known as the keyboardist for the group Yes.)
After some persuading, Stevens convinced Wakeman to compose and perform the piano part for “Morning Has Broken.” Part of the agreement included a payment for the huge amount of £10. Wakeman was surprised and upset when the recording came out, and he found that he was given no credit for his work. And they didn't even pay him!
In 1979, Cat Stevens left performing and became a follower of Islam. Not much was heard from him until 2006 when he returned as Yusuf Islam. At this time, he became aware of Wakeman's ill feelings. He has apologized for credit not being given, saying there was confusion on the record label’s part. And he has personally paid Wakeman for his work. I sincerely hope that, at the very least, he included interest on the payment.
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 reins knew fall, sunlit from heaven,
Like the first dew fall on the first grass.
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden
Sprung incompleteness 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.
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 reins knew fall, sunlit from heaven,
Like the first dew fall on the first grass.
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden
Sprung incompleteness 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.
Do you have any stories about “Morning Has Broken?” What’s your favorite spring song? I’ll be posting versions of this song on my Minnich Music Facebook page, so check those out.
Until next time!
Until next time!
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