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1905© Music by Charles Hutchinson Gabriel Lyrics by
Civilla Durfee Martin
Charles Hutchinson Gabriel
* Cedar County, near Wilton
Aug 18, 1856
†
Los Angeles, Ca Sep 14, 1932
Civilla Durfee Martin
* Jordan, Nova Scotia, Canada
Aug 21, 1866
†
Atlanta, Georgia Mar 9, 1948
"His Eye Is on the Sparrow" (1905), closely associated with
singer-actress Ethel Waters, who even used the name of the song as the title of
her autobiography.i1
"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." Civilla Martin
The next day she mailed the poem to Charles Gabriel, who supplied the music.
Singer Ethel Waters so loved this song that she used its name as the title for
her autobiography.i2
Lyrics:
Verse:
Why should I feel discouraged,
Why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely,
And long for heav'n and home,
When Jesus is my portion,
My constant Friend is He;
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.
Chorus:
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.
Verse:
"Let not your heart be troubled,"
His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness,
I lose my doubts and fears,
Tho' by the path He leadeth,
But one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.
Chorus:
Verse:
Whenever I am tempted,
Whenever clouds arise,
When song gives 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.
Chorus:
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this song, please let us know.
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