Thank You for Giving me the Morning

This simple song of thankfulness is of German origin: The original title was "Danke" - or "Danke für diesen guten Morgen".

The German words and the tune are by German theologian, church musician and song-writer Martin Gotthard Schneider (1930–2017). They were written in 1961 for a competition run by the Evangelische Akademie Tutzing for new sacred songs in the jazz or pop genres. The song won first prize in the competition, and later spent six weeks in the German pop-charts (ref). More recent recordings of the song suggest that the German song, at least, is now mainly seen as a childrens song.

It has been translated into 25 or more languages. The English translation was made by Walter Van Der Haas and Peter-Paul Van Lelyreid, and most sources say it was first published in 1964. (Although there are reports of people singing it during the 1950s on internet discussion forms (ref).

An alternative English-language translation (Thank you for waking me this morning), without any explicit religious references, was released by English singer Petula Clarke in 1964, but did not become popular (source and video).

The English-language version of the song has been included in various hymn books including and McCrimmon's Celebration Hymnal for Everyone 1994 edition (and perhaps later ones too), and Songs of God's Love - a Hymnal for Primary Children.

The unnamed tune has a 4/4 time signature. In the key of G, the first few notes are G G_ GGG A A B B, with accompanying chords G / C / G.

Downloads

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Examples

Small ensemble - folk arrangement

Singer with backing track, words on-screen

Two singers with electronic keyboard backing

Instrumental - electronic organ

Lyrics

The lyrics are copyright so cannot be reproduced here. But they are currently available on this website. A rough outline is:

1. Thank you for giving me the morning.
Thank you for ev’ry day that’s new.
Thank you that I can know my worries
Can be cast on you.

2. Thank you for all my friends and brothers.
Thank you for all the men that live.
Thank you for even greatest enemies
I can forgive.

3. Thank you, I have my occupation.
Thank you for ev’ry pleasure small.
Thank you for music, light and gladness.
Thank you for them all.

4. Thank you for many little sorrows.
Thank you for ev’ry kindly word.
Thank you for ev’rywhere your guidance
Eeaches ev’ry land.

5. Thank you, I see your Word has meaning.
Thank you, I know your Spirit here.
Thank you because you love all people,
those both far and near.

6. Thank you, O Lord, you spoke unto us.
Thank you that for our words you care.
Thank you, O Lord, you came among us,
bread and wine to share.

7. Thank you, O Lord, your love is boundless.
Thank you that I am full of you.
Thank you, you made me feel so glad
and thankful as I do.