His Eye Is On The Sparrow - Lyrics, Sheet Music, and Great Performances
Civilla Martin penned the words to this beautiful song in 1905 after being inspired by a couple who both suffered physical disabilities, yet lived happy Christian lives full of hope.
I sing because I'm happy,
I sing because I'm free,
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.
Lyrics to His Eye Is On The Sparrow
Words By: Civilla D. Martin, 1905
Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
Refrain
I sing because I'm happy,
I sing because I'm free,
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.
"Let not your heart be troubled," His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
Refrain
Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
Refrain
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
Refrain
I sing because I'm happy,
I sing because I'm free,
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.
"Let not your heart be troubled," His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
Refrain
Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
Refrain
Mahalia Jackson Sings His Eye Is On The Sparrow
His Eye Is On The Sparrow Sheet Music
Free Sheet Music for His Eye Is On The Sparrow
- His Eye Is On The Sparrow
- Free PDF Sheet Music of His Eye Is On The Sparrow
Words By: Civilla D. Martin
Music By: Charles H. Gabriel - His Eye Is On The Sparrow
- PDF Sheet Music of His Eye Is On The Sparrow - Free
- His Eye Is On The Sparrow
- Free Follow Along Sheet Music of His Eye Is On The Sparrow
The Story Behind the Hymn
The Inspiration for His Eye Is On The Sparrow
The lyricist of this beautiful hymn, Civilla Martin, was inspired by Mr. & Mrs. Doolittle to write this song. She said:
Early in the spring of 1905, my husband and I were sojourning in Elmira, New York. We contracted a deep friendship for a couple by the name of Mr. and Mrs. Doolittle-true saints of God. Mrs. Doolittle had been bedridden for nigh twenty years. Her husband was an incurable cripple who had to propel himself to and from his business in a wheel chair. Despite their afflictions, they lived happy Christian lives, bringing inspiration and comfort to all who knew them. One day while we were visiting with the Doolittles, my husband commented on their bright hopefulness and asked them for the secret of it. Mrs. Doolittle's reply was simple: "His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me." The beauty of this simple expression of boundless faith gripped the hearts and fired the imagination of Dr. Martin and me. The hymn "His Eye Is on the Sparrow" was the outcome of that experience.
Early in the spring of 1905, my husband and I were sojourning in Elmira, New York. We contracted a deep friendship for a couple by the name of Mr. and Mrs. Doolittle-true saints of God. Mrs. Doolittle had been bedridden for nigh twenty years. Her husband was an incurable cripple who had to propel himself to and from his business in a wheel chair. Despite their afflictions, they lived happy Christian lives, bringing inspiration and comfort to all who knew them. One day while we were visiting with the Doolittles, my husband commented on their bright hopefulness and asked them for the secret of it. Mrs. Doolittle's reply was simple: "His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me." The beauty of this simple expression of boundless faith gripped the hearts and fired the imagination of Dr. Martin and me. The hymn "His Eye Is on the Sparrow" was the outcome of that experience.
Download an MP3 of His Eye Is On The Sparrow
Related Poetry
- Uplifted Was My Heart
- by Joyce T. Griffin
- A World of Little Sparrows
- by John Evans
- God Attends a Sparrow's Funeral
- by Robert O. Adair
Related Scripture
Matthew 6:26; 10:29-31
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?(NIV)
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.(NIV)
Related Devotionals
- His Eye Is On The Sparrow by Walter Haldorson
- The thought occurred to me that God must look down on us from His vantage point, and, in His infinite love and compassion, sorrow over us when we do foolish things, and grieve that the perfect world that He created for us had, through our own waywardness, become so frantic.
- His Eye is on the Sparrow by Lucy Neeley Adams :: Crosswalk.com
- Ever wonder why our Lord chose such a common little bird to illustrate such a profound truth?
- Even the very hairs on your head are numbered.
- Jesus says that His Father has taken the time to count each one of the hairs on our head! While we may be pre-occupied by the color of our hair or how many are falling out on a daily basis, Father focuses in on each strand. What incredible attention to detail!
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Download an MP3 of His Eye Is On The Sparrow
More Links About His Eye Is On The Sparrow
- His Eye Is on the Sparrow
- CyberHymnal
- About Civilla D. Martin, Lyricist
- Civilla Durfee Martin (1866-1948)
Biographical Sketch on the Lives Of Walter and Civilla Stillman Walter
Ethel Waters: His Eye is on the Sparrow
Ethel Waters used His Eye is on the Sparrow as the title for her autobiography.
His Eye Is On The Sparrow: An Autobiography (Quality Paperbacks Series)
Amazon Price: $14.49 (as of 01/02/2010)
Ethel Waters's His Eye is on the Sparrow stands as perhaps the greatest autobiography of a black female performer, capturing both the horror and the joy of the African American woman's experience through the often bitter yet always forgiving voice of an indomitable spirit. This edition is supplemented with a new historical preface and over a dozen photographs.
Learn More About Ethel Waters
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Ethel Waters
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Background information: Born October 31, 1896(1896-10-31) Chester, Pennsylvania, USA Died September 1, 1977 (aged 80) Chatsworth, California, USA Genre(s): Jazz Occupation(s): Actress, singer Instrument(s): Vocals Years active: 1925-1977 Associated acts: Be...
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- Tipi Tipi Jan 18, 2009 @ 10:50 pm
- His Eye Is On The Sparrow, was my dad's favorite! I just think this is a lovely lens.
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- chefkeem chefkeem Jan 8, 2009 @ 7:47 pm
- Your lens is a blessing for many - may I add my puny little SquidAngel Blessing to it? Wonderful work you do on Squidoo, PastorKay! Thanks. :)
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- Shelly Shelly Dec 16, 2008 @ 10:45 pm
- You seem to understand the power of a single song. Tipi's and my Dad just loved this song. We sang it many times when we were young. Since Dad moved to heaven, I get all teared up every time I hear it.
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- adventuresinautism adventuresinautism Dec 15, 2008 @ 2:23 pm
- I love this song too, but I did not know the story behind it. I need to go check the hymnal in church and see if it's in there, or request the choir sing it sometime. It's so pretty thanks for putting together such a great lens!
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- mbrownauthor mbrownauthor Dec 1, 2008 @ 9:07 pm
- Reading the lyrics, brought tears to my eyes. My Lord is so good! Thanks for the reminder!
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- d-artist d-artist Nov 26, 2008 @ 7:45 pm
- I love this lens...I love the song...5*
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- Joan4 Joan4 Nov 7, 2008 @ 6:45 pm
- oh yes! our mom's very favorite hymn. Beautiful lens! Thank you!
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- OhMe OhMe Nov 7, 2008 @ 6:42 pm
- Oh, I really enjoyed this lens. This was my mother's most favorite hymn and I can just hear her singing it. Thank you so much.
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- DAD1104 DAD1104 Oct 10, 2008 @ 1:21 pm
- Very nice.
by PastorKay
I live my life in service to God and in service to mankind, and in doing so I have found great joy. (more)
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