23 Songs About Mornings, from Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin' to Wake Me Up

What is the best song about the morning?

"Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'" from Oklahoma! is the classic morning song, and "Here Comes the Sun" by The Beatles is the favorite for a bright start. For a gentle morning, "Morning Has Broken" by Cat Stevens is the go-to, and "Wake Me Up" by Avicii is the modern wake-up anthem.

Classic songs about mornings

1. "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'", from Oklahoma!: the opening song of the 1943 musical.
2. "Good Morning", from Singin' in the Rain: a tap-dancing celebration after a long night.
3. "Good Morning Heartache", Billie Holiday: a jazz song about waking up sad.
4. "Wake Up Little Susie", The Everly Brothers: two teens who fell asleep at the movies.
5. "Early Morning Rain", Gordon Lightfoot: watching planes leave on a gray morning.
6. "Good Morning Good Morning", The Beatles: inspired by a cornflakes commercial.
7. "Sunday Morning", The Velvet Underground: soft and dreamy.
8. "A Beautiful Morning", The Rascals: a cheerful 1968 hit.
9. "Good Morning Starshine", Oliver: a sunny song from the musical Hair.

Upbeat songs to wake up to

10. "Here Comes the Sun", The Beatles: the brightest start to any day.
11. "Morning Train (Nine to Five)", Sheena Easton: an 80s commuter favorite.
12. "Mornin'", Al Jarreau: a smooth, joyful 1983 hit.
13. "Wake Me Up", Avicii: folk meets dance music.
14. "Wake Up", Arcade Fire: a huge, rousing chorus.
15. "Good Morning", Kanye West: the opener of his album Graduation.
16. "Beautiful Day", U2: a song about a fresh start.
17. "Banana Pancakes", Jack Johnson: a lazy morning that never has to end.

Mellow songs for a slow morning

18. "Morning Has Broken", Cat Stevens: a hymn about a fresh new day.
19. "Sunrise", Norah Jones: soft and warm.
20. "Morning Glory", Oasis: a big 90s rock song with a morning title.
21. "Morning Bell", Radiohead: a strange, beautiful song from Kid A.
22. "Morning Song", The Avett Brothers: a hopeful folk song.
23. "Morning Mood", Edvard Grieg: the classical piece that sounds like sunrise.

Why do we love songs about mornings?

Morning is the one time of day that feels like a fresh start. Songs about it can be bright and hopeful, like "Here Comes the Sun", or gentle and reflective, like "Morning Has Broken". Many musicals open with a morning song for the same reason: it sets the mood for everything that follows.

The stories behind two morning classics

"Morning Has Broken" began as a hymn: the English writer Eleanor Farjeon wrote the words in 1931 to fit an old Scottish Gaelic melody, and Cat Stevens turned it into a hit forty years later. "Good Morning Good Morning" by The Beatles has a funnier origin: John Lennon wrote it after a breakfast cereal commercial kept playing on the television at home.

Morning songs for church and quiet time

For a morning service or a few minutes of quiet before the day starts, "Morning Has Broken" is the natural choice, and hymns like "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" are often sung at the start of the day. See our songs about God for more.

How to build a morning playlist

Start with something soft while you wake up, like "Morning Mood" or "Sunrise", then build to the upbeat songs as you get ready. Save the biggest energy for the commute or the gym. If you use a song as an alarm, pick one that starts quietly, so it wakes you gently instead of with a jolt.

Morning songs for the commute

For the drive or train ride to work, "Morning Train (Nine to Five)" is the obvious pick, and "Mornin'", "Beautiful Day" and "Wake Up" keep the energy up in traffic. A few minutes of music before the first meeting is an easy way to start the day in a better mood.

Songs about mornings for a wedding day

On the morning of a wedding, a playlist sets the mood while everyone gets ready. "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'", "Here Comes the Sun" and "Beautiful Day" are cheerful picks for the bridal suite, and "Banana Pancakes" works for a relaxed breakfast with the wedding party.

Morning songs for kids

For a preschool circle time or a family breakfast, "Good Morning Starshine", "Here Comes the Sun" and "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'" are easy to sing along to. A short morning song helps young children move from sleep to the day ahead. For bedtime, see our lullabies.

From sunrise to sunset

For more songs about the time of day, see our songs about sunshine, songs about the sunset and, for the start of the week, our songs about Monday.

A song to start their day

A personalized song makes a sweet good morning surprise: their name, the little routines you share and the reasons you are glad they are in your life, in a bright acoustic or pop style. Send it on a birthday morning, an anniversary or the first day of a new job.

How to create a personalized song

1. Choose a style from 14 genres: acoustic, pop, country and more.
2. Add their name.
3. Share three things you love about mornings with them.
4. Review the lyrics and edit or regenerate them for free before any music is made.
5. Listen to 4 free 45-second previews and choose your favorite.

The full 3 to 4 minute song costs $24.99, or $29.99 for Premium with four full versions and editable lyrics. You get the MP3, a gift page and the lyrics as a PDF.

Give them a morning they will remember: create a song and hear four previews for free.