Good old Yusuf Islam AKA "Cat Stevens" is credited by most people with writing the tune "Morning Has Broken".* Sometimes people call it a hymn and want to sing it in church, especially at funerals. It is certainly singable by a group, so it is musically appropriate for congregational song, but have you ever looked at the lyrics? What in the world is it saying other than "Yeah, nature is so pretty. What a great big, big, big god (small g) you are"?
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.
A closer look at these lyrics (copied from here) reveals a little bit of "content" other than just "God is so big, yeah god!" But only IF you know that "the Word" is a reference to Jesus (John 1:14); only IF "His feet" is a reference to Jesus as both the one who walked in the perfection of Eden with the man and the woman (Genesis 3:8) and walked on earth bringing all things to completion (John 19:30); and only IF "God's re-creation of the new day" is a reference to the world saving redemption worked by Christ on the cross and revealed on the new day of His resurrection. None of this is very clear, and therefore, though the melody may stir up warm fuzzies, this song is hardly comforting to anyone who is grieving a loved one who died in the Lord.
Instead, if a grieving Christian insists on this song at the funeral of their loved one, I offer these lyrics that proclaim the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ a little more clearly, and offer the hope of the resurrection in Christ Jesus.
Instead, if a grieving Christian insists on this song at the funeral of their loved one, I offer these lyrics that proclaim the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ a little more clearly, and offer the hope of the resurrection in Christ Jesus.
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.
Word of the Father You lived among us.
Life did you author, working our good.
Praise for salvation, praise for deliv’rance,
Praise for redemption by blood on wood.
Praise that great morning You rose in triumph
Angels forewarning, “He is not here.”
He rose victorious o’er death and mourning
His promise glorious, our hearts have cheer.
Morning has broken, like the first morning.
The promise spoken, we shall arise.
Sins all forgiven, nothing to shame us,
Dead in Him living, life He supplies.
Words: Eleanor Farjeon, 1881-1965, st. 1, David Haberstock, st. 2-4, Public Domain
Music: BUNESSAN, Gaelic, Public Domain
*The words for this Scottish Gaelic tune (BUNESSAN) were actually written by Eleanor Farjeon (1881-1965)
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