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:
Eleanor Farjeon
Hymn: 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 rain’s new fall
sunlit 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.
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!
Fifth century prayer: O Lord, direct our steps this day into the way of peace and strengthen our hearts to obey your commandments. May your Dayspring visit us from on high and give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, that they may adore you for your mercy, follow you for your truth, desire you for your sweetness, for you are blessed Lord God of Israel, now and forever. Amen.
Rev. Dr. Peter James served 42 years as the senior of Vienna Presbyterian Church in Vienna, VA — 21 years in the 20th century and 21 years in the 21st century. He retired in 2021 and now serves as Pastor-in-Residence at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
Even as a pastor, prayer came slowly to Pete. Read Pete’s story.