Hymns From Home: Morning Has Broken

PRAY
Lord, remind us even at the close of this day, that morning will break again tomorrow and Your Mercies are new EVERY MORNING.  Put a praise on our lips and a song in our hearts.

LYRIC
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 re-creation
Of the new day!

​SCRIPTURE
Lamentations 3:21-23

BACKGROUND

Morning Has Broken was written by Eleanor Farjeon, best known as a children's author who was particularly popular in Britain in the first half of the 20th century.  However there is nothing childish about Farjeon at all who was an incredibly talented writer across the board both of stories and of lyrics...even having co-composed the libretto to an opera at age 16 with her brother.  The hymn-tune was Gaelic melody that was first formally published in 1888 as the setting for different hymn text by Mary MacDonald.  The tune was formally named  BUNESSAN after MacDonald's birthplace and the name stuck even when applied to Morning Has Broken in 1931, and a few other texts as well.

I'm not certain the validity of this story, but the origin of the text that I most commonly found in my research was simply that a children's hymnal needed a song giving thanks to God in the morning, and she was contracted to write one.  Simple, but in this season as I think about how we are each seeking to meet needs, I find this story both plausible and beautiful.
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PERSONAL

I've always loved the singable folk quality of this hymn, particularly, as one may be able to guess, the version that streamed out of my parents' record player from the Cat Stevens LP I'd often put on.  I couldn't imagine doing a Hymns series without it...and to capture that fun folky feel I knew I'd need "The Stephens."  

I first met producer/guitarist/studio engineer Stephen Leiweke about five years ago while working on a project with Kelly Minter.  Since then, we've had the pleasure of playing as part of the band for the Cultivate: A Gathering Around The Word events as well as few studio sessions at his amazing Yackland Studio, and many many hours on the road.  He was also gracious enough to play guitar on my solo show last summer.  Stephen sets the bar high both as a musician and roadmate.  Everything he does is executed with precision and perfection as if he is simply incapable of making a mistake.  He also happens to have one of the kindest, servant-hearted attitudes of anyone I know.  If you find your self needing something, he's probably already anticipated the need, sniffed out the resources, and got a solution all ready and waiting for you.  This video project is no exception.  My friends and I up to this point have been sort of gleefully winging things - playing with neither count in nor click track and crossing our fingers that it all works out.  (Which is has because Michelle Margiotta is a patient, video-editing genius).  However, when I opened the dropbox folder Stephen sent me I saw not only his flawlessly beautiful video and audio tracks, but also a written chart, three different versions of click track, written notes on what he'd played to help me out, and he'd already sent the whole enchilada to our ukulele friend too.  Because of course he had.
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I had the immense pleasure of becoming dear friends with Stephen Mason's wife, Jude, before I ever knew him at all.  She and I were part of a group that was equal parts poetry/writing/art/therapy/friendship and a couple years later when I first set foot in our now-church, I was beyond delighted to see her there in a pew.  Fast forward a few years and her husband Stephen has become one of my most favorite fellow music makers.  His presence in our church music loft brings color and shine both figuratively and literally as he recently refinished his bass in sparkly glitter.  After spending 20 years as a founding member in the band "Jars Of Clay," Mason qualified as a Master Barber and opened his own shop called "The Handsomizer."  From straight-razor shaves to haircuts, he does it the old-fashioned "right" way and clients walk out not only looking, well...handsomer, but also with lighter souls from having spent an hour with one of the best listeners in town.  

Beyond the fact that I thought the talents of these gentlemen would just lend themselves well to this tune, I also felt like the lyric fit them both.  Though different from one another for sure, both these fellows are the type that find the good in each day, gently remind me of that good when I struggle to find it for myself, and faithfully praise the Lord.  May we remember that His mercies are new every morning and will be until there are no more mornings except the Eternal morning in His Presence.