Long before Cat Stevens made it a global hit, the words to Morning Has Broken were quietly penned by a woman who believed in the beauty of simple things.
Eleanor Farjeon was born in 1881 in London to a family of writers, musicians, and dreamers. She had a way with words that felt like sunlight on paper—gentle, lyrical, full of hope. Known for her children’s books and poems, she created enchanted worlds for young minds to explore. But it was one short hymn, tucked into a 1931 church songbook, that would leave her most lasting legacy.
Set to a haunting old Scottish melody called Bunessan, her poem Morning Has Broken was a celebration of dawn, rebirth, and gratitude. It quietly made its way into the hearts of schoolchildren and churchgoers in England—but it was still far from fame.
Then, in 1971, something extraordinary happened. A young singer named Cat Stevens discovered the hymn and was captivated by its message of peace and new beginnings. He recorded it with tender vocals and a memorable piano arrangement, and the world listened. The song soared to the top of the charts and became a spiritual anthem for generations.
Eleanor Farjeon passed away in 1965, never knowing that the words she once wrote to honor the freshness of morning would one day rise again—sung around the world, cherished by millions, and carried like a prayer on the wind.
