His Eye is On the Sparrow

lyrics by civilla d. martin, music by charles gabriel

His Eye Is on the Sparrow Lyrics

 

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.

 

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,

Tho' 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.

 

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.

 

Whenever I am tempted, Whenever doubts arise,

When songs give place to sighing, When hope within me dies,

I draw the closer to Him, From cares He sets me free,

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He cares for me;

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He cares for me.

 

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.

 

His Eye Is on the Sparrow Guitar Chords

 

C                              F                      C 

Why should I feel discouraged? Why should the shadows come?

A7                     Dm     G                       C    

Why should my heart be lonely And long for heaven and home,

     C           G7          C                  F  

When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He:

    G             C              G               C   

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

    C      C7     F    F7        C       G      C         

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

  G                C        G                C    

I sing because I'm happy, I sing because I'm free,

        C      C7     F     F7       C       G7      C    

For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Scripture References

  • Matthew 10:29-31 - Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father's care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
  • John 14:27 - Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

The Story

 

Civilla Durfee Martin wrote many popular hymns that are still familiar today, including "God Will Take Care of You" and "The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power". Her husband Walter Stillman Martin was a minister, but also wrote many of the hymn tunes for her lyrics, although the tune to this particular hymn was written by Charles Gabriel (who wrote the music to an enormous number of hymns still sung today including "Send the Light", "Higher Ground", "He Lifted Me", "I Stand Amazed in the Presence", "The Way of the Cross Leads Home", "Will the Circle Be Unbroken", "Crown Him with Many Crowns", "Since Jesus Came Into My Heart", and many, many more.

 

Civilla Martin recounted the story of how the lyrics of this hymn came to her. She and her husband were dear friends with a couple in Elmira, New York, named Mr. and Mrs. Doolittle, whom she described as "true saints of God". Mr. Doolittle was disabled and had to use a wheelchair to move. Mrs. Doolittle had an illness that kept her bedridden for twenty years. And yet every time the Martins would visit the Doolittles, they were struck at how bright, optimistic, and at peace they were. During one visit, they asked Mrs. Doolittle if she ever got discouraged. She responded about God's care for the sparrow. The words struck Civilla deeply, and shortly after she wrote the poem we know today as "His Eye Is on the Sparrow".

 

 

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