Cat Stevens - Morning Has Broken (Grand Piano: Rick Wakeman)

A popular and well-known Christian hymn first published in 1931. It has words by English author Eleanor Farjeon and is set to a traditional Gaelic tune known as "Bunessan" (it shares this tune with the 19th century Christmas Carol "Child in the Manger").
This is the most beautiful song ever written and published as a pop song, my favorite, which in my opinion, makes us closer to God and its true Paradise. Wakeman's Grand Piano arrangements and its initial musical verse is totally inspired (he follows the Christian faith), and Cat's inspiration (he was converted to the Muslim faith) and voice is beyond a simple pop song, closer to heaven indeed. Both artists have developed a kind of art, where God is in the center of their music, playing often "music for God".
According Wikipedia, when shaping "Morning Has Broken" for recording, Stevens had to start with a hymn which took around 45 seconds to sing in its basic form. Producer Paul Samwell-Smith told him he could never put something like that on an album, and that it needed to be at least three minutes in length, although an acoustic demo exists of Stevens playing an early version which lasts almost three minutes.Prior to the actual recording Stevens heard Wakeman play something in the recording booth. It was a rough sketch of what would later become "Catherine Howard". Stevens told Wakeman that he liked it and wanted something similar as the opening section, the closing section and, if possible, a middle section as well. Wakeman told Stevens he could not as it was his piece destined for a solo album, but Stevens persuaded him to adapt his composition.[5] The familiar piano intro and general structure of the piece may be attributed to Stevens or to Wakeman.
The Poem:
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 dew fall 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
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
Credits:
Lyrics: Eleanor Farjeon (1930)
Music (Trad. song called "Bunessan"): L.McBean (1900)
Voice, Guitar & Arrangement: Cat Stevens (1971)
Additional music & Grand Piano: Rick Wakeman (1971)

[@philipburke9812]

Most amazing and pure song ever written with cat stevens and Rick wakeman on the piano..... thought about this for a long while now when it's my time to go on life's final journey this is my first choice song on my list.....

[@ffrederickskitty214]

Wakeman is the master

[@krisg3984]

Steven made it gentle, Wakeman made it great . And together they made it mighty powerful and moving ! 💕

[@amirs.currim6442]

Absolutely.

[@user-jr6bc3rp1q]

Rick+Cat=!!!

[@hernantorres6475]

El piano es exquisito, gracias Rick; me sublima esta canción es una oración.

[@binoklin6111]

A joy to be listen over and over again

[@wolframharms5114]

Rick Wakeman lifted the whole light piece up to something really strong - a great job, Rick - thank you for this!

[@saranbhatia8809]

Can keep listening this!

[@mariawilkinson9861]

A wonderful performance by Cat Steven's, and Rick Wakeman on piano. A lovely song that I still love to hear all these years later. Thank you.

[@jamesb.2064]

Recorded at 2 different times. Rick never got paid for his playing on it, and didn’t get credit until years later.

[@Scott-up3bq]

Yes he did fourteen pounds ,which a session musician got paid

[@sabamhutajulu2175]

very peaceful. TQ very much

[@desatormentandome]

siempre el mismo gozo al escuchar esta canción tan hermosa.

[@user-uy8qp8hd8l]

Beyond beautiful ...

[@soriergenodlareg4214]

Piano maravilhoso.

[@janepang484]

RICK and CAT💖🕺🌟🤩🌅🌞 Great!🎼🎵🎹🎸🎤📀🎧👍👏 From Hong Kong🙋‍♀️🌏💝🌺🥰

[@nanar2130]

quel fantastique duo de musiciens!!!

[@The-KP]

Piano in this song is a great counterpoint to Cat Steven's gentle vocals and guitar... and I never knew it was Rick Wakeman til today.

[@tinkerwithstuff]

I actually came here specifically testing my idea that it must be Wakeman playing that, when I saw this in a "reaction video" to the song and the playing style seemed so familiar :D

[@ronalina481]

Now with YES

[@richardmoloney689]

Rick did keyboards on Bowies Major Tong.

[@TheKWEbb23]

@@richardmoloney689 and Life on Mars

[@marcelojimenez9518]

Hasta acá videos excelentes un poco de cada estilos musicales dentro del rock internacional! !!!!!

[@pafemo]

Miło jest dzielić się tą wspaniałą muzykę i słowo napisane inspirowaną na słowo Boże. Mieszkam w Chile, Południowej Ameryce i choć ogromne różnice między naszymi językami, mamy silną i wspólną wiarę w Boga i religii (Polsce i Ameryce Łacińskiej), w Chrystusie. English translation: It is nice to share this wonderful music and word written inspired on the word of God. I live in Chile, South America and even though the huge differences between our languages, we have a strong and common belief in God and religion (Poland and Latin america). En Cristo.

[@dmbmdb2860]

Una joya Un hallazgo Mi vida acaba de pasar frente a mis ojos....

[@MrPedal88]

There's never mistaken Rick's playing.

[@jodip699]

Omv Rick Wakeman is the pianist? Omg

[@francoalfaro7110]

Que buen cantante...genio...mister Stevens...de esos buenos tiempos..cuando la musica era musica...recio cantautor...

[@dizzypilots2639]

Beautiful 👏

[@JimmerJamesKM]

Looks like 2 videos patched together. (Not done at the same time)

[@RPRohrman]

I always wondered who played piano on that track.

[@city5productions]

Someone typing in Bulgarian or something

[@mcsew2k]

Seems that the video was contrived.

[@JimmerJamesKM]

Yeah, sure looks that way..

[@richgall63]

Maybe it had to be a contrived, since Stevens never acknowledged Wakeman’s work on the original LP, nor did he compensate him monetarily.

[@richgall63]

mcsew2k, speaking of “contrived”, listen to this clip : kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGWae56Kobefe7M

[@simonwoods8809]

@@richgall63 Indeed it was fascinating to listen to. Always very amusing as well as his musical talent.

[@timbigger1731]

@@richgall63 What a git...

[@carlosarriolaisais7068]

This video is not real. There Is something strange in it.

[@karloskahgruber]

FAKE