Good Morning Songs

Upon being greeted a “Good Morning!” by Bilbo Baggins the Hobbit, the wizard Gandalf asked, “Do you wish me a good morning, or mean that it is a good morning whether I like it or not; or that you feel good this morning; or that it is a morning to be good on?”

Wizards always make things so complicated.

Like Gandalf, the reader (you) might be confused and wonder if I mean these to be songs saying “Good Morning”, or if I mean they are good songs about morning; or that they are good songs to listen to in the morning?

Like Bilbo, my answer would be “All of them at once.”

“Lovely Day” by Bill Withers

Written in 1977 by Bill Withers and Skip Scarborough, “Lovely Day” reached number six on the R&B charts, and in early 1978 achieved a number thirty position on the Billboard Top 40. It’s repeating chorus “It’s gonna be a lovely day” and it’s funky bass line make it one of my all time favorite morning songs.

“Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina and The Waves

I had the chance to see Katrina and The Waves perform live on the Ben Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia, along with The Beach Boys sometime in the 1980’s.  It was a great song then and still is today.  It’s a pretty energized song, and does well as a caffeine substitute if you need a little extra “get up and go” in the morning.

“Sunshine Superman” by Donovan

Only Donovan could wrap the morning with Superman and Green Lantern in1960’s psychedelia.  “Sunshine Superman” was a number one hit in the late summer of 1966, and remains one of Donovan’s most popular and recognizable hits.

“Wake Up Everybody” by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes

It wasn’t Harold Melvin on the lead vocal for this one, but instead it was the late great Teddy Pendegrass, who was originally the drummer for The Blue Notes.  Equally deceiving is the meaning of the song, of which the lyrics first seem to be talking about waking up and starting a new day, but later reveal themselves as a metaphor for a new beginning.  That is what a morning is anyway right? The dawn of a new day.

“Black Coffee In Bed” by Squeeze

It never charted in the United States, but it’s an 80’s classic, (especially when it has Elvis Costello and Paul Young as the backup singers).  Except for the java reference, the song really has nothing to do with the morning… but any song that sings about coffee is great to wake up to.

“Good Day Sunshine” by The Beatles

Astronauts play this as their wake up song… Need I say more?  With a combination of the term “Good day” with the word “Sunshine” there is perhaps no better upbeat song with which to begin one’s day.  Although the writing credits are Lennon/McCartney, anyone who knows The Beatles knows that there’s far more Paul in this one.

“Here Comes The Sun” by Richie Havens

Although written and originally recorded by George Harrison while with The Beatles, Richie Havens later recorded a version of the song which he played at Woodstock.  Richie did a great job, and it’s a toss up which version I prefer best.  Like “Wake Up Everybody” by Harold Melvin and The Blue notes, this tune uses metaphor for the coming of the Sun representing a new beginning.

“Good Morning, Good Morning” by The Beatles

Again, credited to Lennon/McCartney, this one is admittedly more John.  Lennon’s inspiration for this tune was none other than a Kellogg’s Corn Flakes commercial, and what says morning better than Corn Flakes for breakfast?  Add a little frosting and They’re GRRRRREAT!!!