Piano Demo
0:00
Hymnal Number
649Resource Type:
Keys included:
C
About this Hymn
The lyricist Civilla Martin conceived this song after visiting a woman in Elmira, New York, who had been bedridden for twenty years; she told Martin, "How can I be discouraged, when my Father watches the sparrows, and I know he loves and cares for me?" Martin sent the words to Charles Gabriel, who had been in a "despondent, down-hearted mood"; these words "seemed like a voice speaking directly to me as I read, and its melody rang out of silence into my heart."
Lyrics
Verse 1
Why should I feel discouraged?
Why should the shadows come?
Why should my heart feel lonely
and long for heav'n and home
when Jesus is my portion?
A 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.
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 2
"Let not your heart be troubled,"
his tender words I hear;
and resting on his goodness,
I lose my doubt and fear.
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.
Verse 3
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.
Why should I feel discouraged?
Why should the shadows come?
Why should my heart feel lonely
and long for heav'n and home
when Jesus is my portion?
A 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.
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 2
"Let not your heart be troubled,"
his tender words I hear;
and resting on his goodness,
I lose my doubt and fear.
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.
Verse 3
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.
Copyrighted lyrics may be used in corporate worship in accordance with a valid CCLI license. Lyrics should be displayed unaltered and include author and copyright information. All other uses require permission from the copyright holder.
Attribution & Copyright
Words: Civilla D. Martin, 1905
Music: Charles H. Gabriel, 1905
Music: Charles H. Gabriel, 1905