Percy Dearmer was looking for a hymn to express thanksgiving for each new day to be included in his new 1931 hymnbook Songs of Praise. He approached Eleanor Farjeon (1881-1965), a well-known English poet and writer of children’s stories for assistance. Percy had already selected a traditional Scottish Gaelic tune and asked Eleanor to provide lyrics to match. It was a tall order, but she delivered! Eleanor’s contribution, “Morning has Broken” was included in the new hymnbook, although it went largely unnoticed until Cat Stevens featured it in his 1971 album, Teaser and the Firecat. Her three stanzas are loaded with features of God’s handiwork: rain, dewfall, sunlight, blackbirds, grass and wet gardens. I’m intrigued with her vivid caricature of morning light shining through wind-blown tree leaves, as if they are playing in Eden. Her phrase, “where His feet pass” captures the description of God walking in the garden in Genesis 3.8.
What a great hymn to express gratitude when morning breaks through our evening slumber to signal a new day. “Praise with elation. Praise every morning. God’s re-creation of the new day.” The hymn reminds believers that every day is God’s sheer, unmitigated gift to us. I’ve included its lyrics followed by a fifth century morning prayer of thanksgiving: