Just a visitor here, trying to find info on the origin of "Morning." As others have suggested, I'm pretty sure the song's originally connected to 2 Peter 1:19: "We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts."

Considering the common theme of Appalachian Christians of a sweet longing for heaven, I think this fits right in there. The verse talks about holding onto the promises of Jesus until the "day" dawns--a common Old and New Testament image of heaven coming. Also a play on words with the "day of the Lord" coming.

Then "morning star" is the hope coming before the dawn, rising right before it as a preview. And ppl pointed out that Christ was called the morning star, and his love "shed light" (2 Corinthians!) into hearts.

So the fathers praying, the mothers gone to heaven a-shouting, or what the different versions say, are also focused on sorrow and longing for heaven.

I think that suggests its origin is among down-home Appalachian believers. I guess it's not clear what the original version was, or how Native Americans were involved in its different adaptations.