Lyr Req: His Eye Is on the Sparrow (Martin/Gabriel

Subject: Eye on the sparrow
From: John
Date: 24 Sep 97 - 10:18 PM

Anyone know the lyrics to that old gospel song, often done by bluegrass groups, that has the refrain:

I sing because I'm happy I sing because I'm free His eye is on the sparrow So I know he watches me

Subject: Lyr Add: HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW (Martin/Gabriel
From: Joe Offer
Date: 25 Sep 97 - 01:50 AM

His Eye Is On The Sparrow
Mrs. C.D. Martin and Charles H. Gabriel
(from "Great Inspirational Songs," by Albert E. Brumley, 1973)

1. 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.

[Refrain]
I sing because I'm happy
I sing because I'm free
For His eye is on the sparrow
So I know he watches me

2. "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.

3. 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.


The songbook is still available from the Brumley family company, [phone]. Do a forum search for more information on the Brumley songbooks. Great song, isn't it?

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Eye on the sparrow
From: Bert
Date: 25 Sep 97 - 08:57 AM

Talking of Sparrows, here's a Cockney song....

There was a little sparrow, flew all the way from Spain
He landed in Karachi and started home again
when halfway on his journey, he met a big black hawk
who plucked out all his feathers and said 'Walk you blighter walk'

Subject: RE: Eye on the sparrow
From: John
Date: 28 Sep 97 - 05:48 PM

Thanks much, Joe.

I thought I knew the tune, but now that I've seen the words I'm afraid I know the tune only of the refrain. Wonder if anyone has recorded this song lately. Or earlily, for that matter. It IS a great song. I heard it sung many years ago by an old guy who obviously had been close enough to the Jordan to see the willows and smell the mud, and he WAS obviously glad for the assurance someone was watching out for him. Thanks again.

Subject: RE: Eye on the sparrow
From: Pene Azul
Date: 16 Jun 01 - 12:20 PM

Found here (click).

  His Eye Is On The Sparrow
  (Charles Hutchinson Gabriel [1856-1932] and Civilla D. Martin)
  
  C 
  Why should I feel discouraged
  F	                 C G/B 
  Why should the shadows come
  Gm7           A7-9     Dm7 F6
  Why should my heart be lonely
  G                       C G 
  And long for heav'n and home
       C                  G
  When Jesus is my portion
     C        C/E       F A7 Dm7
  My constant Friend is He
      G      G/F    C/E Am7 
  His eye is on the sparrow
        Dm7     G       C G 
  And I know He watches me
      C      C/Bb   F/A Fm/Ab 
  His eye is on the sparrow 
        C/G     G       C
  And I know He watches me
  
  
  Chorus:
    G                C 
  I sing because I'm happy
    G                C
  I sing because I'm free  
          C      C/Bb   F/A Fm/Ab
  For His eye is on the sparrow
        C/G     G       C 
  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. 
  
  
  Chorus 
  
  
  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. 
  His eye is on the sparrow, 
  And I know He watches me. 
  
  
  Chorus  

Subject: RE: Eye on the sparrow
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 02 Oct 05 - 08:35 PM

With music, pp. 33-34, "Songs of Zion," Abingdon Press, 1981.

Subject: RE: Eye on the sparrow
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 02 Oct 05 - 08:56 PM

Dunno about recently, but Mahalia Jackson did a knockout job of it 9in the 50s or early 60s.

Subject: RE: Eye on the sparrow
From: GUEST,Guest (I suppose)
Date: 03 Oct 05 - 03:27 PM

Josh White had a couple different verses in his songbook, unless my memory is failing me completely. He also sang the chorus in a bounce rhythm.

Subject: RE: Eye on the sparrow
From: TheBigPinkLad
Date: 03 Oct 05 - 03:49 PM

Not sure if it was the same song, but Sammy Davis Jr. sang a theme tune for a TV (detective) series (late 1970s?) that had a line "Keep your eye on the sparrow"