Best ESL Songs - Cat Stevens

Cat Stevens composed so many very mellow songs that could be categorised as 'Easy Listening'. This song 'Morning has Broken' is classified as soft rock but was not written by this artist. It originates from a hymn from the Christian tradition.

'Morning has Broken' by Cat Stevens


Morning has broken, like the first morning

Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird

Praise for the singing, praise for the morning

Praise for the 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

Because this song is based upon the biblical story of creation it must be considered a more difficult song to understand for those who are not familiar with the Christian Tradition.

It relates to the understanding that all creation is at source, sound. So when we read 'praise for the springing fresh from the word' it is a biblical reference to 'In the beginning was the word and the word was with God' and that all multifarious (numerous and diverse) forms of existence were uttered (spoken) into being.

Eden is a word for the Garden of Creation.


Biography


Stephen Demetre Georgiou was born in London on 21st of July in 1948.His father was Greek and his mother was Swedish. He was the youngest of three children and they lived in a tiny flat in Soho. His parents owned the restaurant downstairs and he often helped by waiting on tables.

They owned a grand piano which Stephen soon learned to play and at fifteen convinced his father to buy him a guitar.

In July 1964, while attending Art College, he performed at a local bar and this launched his musical career. In 1965 he landed a publishing deal as a songwriter and adopted the stage name Cat Stevens.

At 18 he had his first hit single and in the 1970's released the best selling albums 'Tea for the Tillerman' and 'Teaser and the Fire Cat'

He converted to Islam at the height of his fame in the late 1970's and adopted a muslim name Yusef Islam. In 1979 he auctioned off his musical instruments and donated the money to charity. he abandoned his musical career and devoted himself to philanthropic causes. He has been given several awards for promoting peace in the world.

His latest album was released in 2009.

Cat Stevens Songs

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Great site for music and pictures, videos of Cat Stevens to explore.