"His Eye Is on the Sparrow" is a gospelhymn written in 1905 by lyricist Civilla D. Martin and composer Charles H. Gabriel. It is most associated with actress-singer Ethel Waters who used the title for her autobiography.[1][2]Mahalia Jackson's recording of the song was honored with the Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 2010. Whitney Houston's recording of the song, one of the singer's last to be recorded before her death in 2012, was released off the soundtrack of the film, Sparkle, and became a posthumous number one Billboard single off one of the gospel singles charts.[3]
The theme of the song is inspired by the words of David in the Psalms and Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew in the Bible: "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye" (Psalm 32:8). "Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" (Matthew 6:26) and "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows" (Matthew 10:29–31).
Civilla Martin, who wrote the lyrics, said of her inspiration to write the song based on the scriptures:
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.[5]
Later published arrangementsEdit
There are many arrangements of the hymn that have been produced since its original publication. These include:
1963: in The Reader's Digest Family Songbook of Faith and Joy[6]
Whitney Houston recorded a version for the soundtrack of the 2012 remake of the 1976 musical film Sparkle. RCA Records released the song as the second single from the album on June 8, 2012,[11][12] four months after Houston's death. This version is Houston's last original single, and second posthumous one. The song made its debut only one day after the premiere of "Celebrate". The song became Houston's second posthumous number one single on the Billboard charts, reaching the top spot on the Billboard Gospel Digital Song Sales chart in June 2012, preceded by her original recording of "I Look to You".[3]
Critical reception
AllMusic called it a "piano, organ, and choir" showcase for Houston, citing it as a highlight of the soundtrack although admitting "Houston sounds as commanding as one can expect from a later recording."[13]Entertainment Weekly editor Melissa Maerz called it "a gorgeously rippling solo" with Houston "testif[ying ...] that Jesus is watching over her."[14] Jody Rosen of Rolling Stone panned the cover, saying "Houston sings – and croaks – in a voice octaves lower than in her prime. At times the song has a ravaged magnificence, but mostly it's painful."[15]
ReferencesEdit
^Waters, Ethel, with Charles Samuels, His Eye Is On The Sparrow: An Autobiography, New York, 1951, reprinted by Da Capo Press, 1992
^"His Eye Is on the Sparrow - Ethel Waters (Author)". Amazon. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
^ ab"Whitney Houston: Billboard chart history". Billboard. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
^"His Eye Is On The Tiny Bird". Discogs. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
^Vincent D. Homan (2013). A Foot in Two Worlds: A Pastor's Journey From Grief to Hope. WestBow Press. p. 112. ISBN978-1449774813.
^Dan Fox, ed., Pleasantville, N.Y. : Reader's Digest Association
Selected Songs by Charles H. Gabriel texts and MIDI sequences of 44 songs, including "His Eye Is on the Sparrow"
Piano version and background of His Eye Is On The Sparrow Free MP3 piano version of "His Eye Is on the Sparrow"
October 19, 2023
sparrow, gospel, hymn, written, 1905, lyricist, civilla, martin, composer, charles, gabriel, most, associated, with, actress, singer, ethel, waters, used, title, autobiography, mahalia, jackson, recording, song, honored, with, grammy, hall, fame, award, 2010, . His Eye Is on the Sparrow is a gospel hymn written in 1905 by lyricist Civilla D Martin and composer Charles H Gabriel It is most associated with actress singer Ethel Waters who used the title for her autobiography 1 2 Mahalia Jackson s recording of the song was honored with the Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 2010 Whitney Houston s recording of the song one of the singer s last to be recorded before her death in 2012 was released off the soundtrack of the film Sparkle and became a posthumous number one Billboard single off one of the gospel singles charts 3 His Eye is on the Sparrow SongPublished1905Songwriter s Civilla D MartinComposer s Charles H GabrielSometimes it was sung with the slightly altered title His Eye is on the Tiny Bird and this version was recorded by actress Violet Carson in 1972 4 Contents 1 Inspiration 2 Later published arrangements 3 Whitney Houston version 4 References 5 External linksInspiration EditThe theme of the song is inspired by the words of David in the Psalms and Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew in the Bible I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go I will guide thee with mine eye Psalm 32 8 Look at the birds of the air they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns and yet your heavenly Father feeds them Are you not of more value than they Matthew 6 26 and Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father But the very hairs of your head are all numbered Fear ye not therefore ye are of more value than many sparrows Matthew 10 29 31 Civilla Martin who wrote the lyrics said of her inspiration to write the song based on the scriptures 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 5 Later published arrangements EditThere are many arrangements of the hymn that have been produced since its original publication These include 1963 in The Reader s Digest Family Songbook of Faith and Joy 6 1975 in The Josh White Songbook 7 1986 Five American Gospel Songs for solo voice and piano by Luigi Zaninelli includes a concert arrangement of it 8 1999 Six Gospel Hymn Preludes has an arrangement for solo organ by Wilbur Held 9 2007 in Songs of Comfort and Hope Vocal Solos for Memorial and Funeral Services 10 Whitney Houston version Edit His Eye Is on the Sparrow nbsp Single by Whitney Houstonfrom the album Sparkle Original Motion Picture SoundtrackReleasedJune 8 2012 2012 06 08 Recorded2011GenreGospelLength3 32LabelRCA RecordsSongwriter s Civilla D MartinCharles H GabrielProducer s R KellyWhitney Houston singles chronology Celebrate 2012 His Eye Is on the Sparrow 2012 I Look to You 2012 Whitney Houston recorded a version for the soundtrack of the 2012 remake of the 1976 musical film Sparkle RCA Records released the song as the second single from the album on June 8 2012 11 12 four months after Houston s death This version is Houston s last original single and second posthumous one The song made its debut only one day after the premiere of Celebrate The song became Houston s second posthumous number one single on the Billboard charts reaching the top spot on the Billboard Gospel Digital Song Sales chart in June 2012 preceded by her original recording of I Look to You 3 Critical receptionAllMusic called it a piano organ and choir showcase for Houston citing it as a highlight of the soundtrack although admitting Houston sounds as commanding as one can expect from a later recording 13 Entertainment Weekly editor Melissa Maerz called it a gorgeously rippling solo with Houston testif ying that Jesus is watching over her 14 Jody Rosen of Rolling Stone panned the cover saying Houston sings and croaks in a voice octaves lower than in her prime At times the song has a ravaged magnificence but mostly it s painful 15 References Edit Waters Ethel with Charles Samuels His Eye Is On The Sparrow An Autobiography New York 1951 reprinted by Da Capo Press 1992 His Eye Is on the Sparrow Ethel Waters Author Amazon Retrieved April 10 2021 a b Whitney Houston Billboard chart history Billboard Retrieved November 27 2022 His Eye Is On The Tiny Bird Discogs Retrieved 2019 10 03 Vincent D Homan 2013 A Foot in Two Worlds A Pastor s Journey From Grief to Hope WestBow Press p 112 ISBN 978 1449774813 Dan Fox ed Pleasantville N Y Reader s Digest Association Walter Raim Walter ed Chicago Quadrangle Books Published by Harold Flammer Inc Shawnee Press Delaware Water Gap Pennsylvania Published by MorningStar Music Publishers Fenton Missouri Mark Hayes ed Lorenz Publisher Dayton Ohio Archived copy Amazon Archived from the original on 2013 11 14 Retrieved 2017 08 31 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link Whitney Houston His Eye Is On The Sparrow retrieved 2019 08 11 Andy Kellman Sparkle Original Motion Picture Soundtrack AllMusic Retrieved 23 September 2015 Sparkle Original Motion Picture Soundtrack ew com Archived from the original on 13 November 2013 Retrieved 23 September 2015 Various Artists Sparkle Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Album Review Rolling Stone 31 July 2012 Retrieved 23 September 2015 External links Edit nbsp Wikisource has original text related to this article His Eye Is on the Sparrow Civilla Durfee Martin Archived 2012 04 04 at the Wayback Machine Selected Songs by Charles H Gabriel texts and MIDI sequences of 44 songs including His Eye Is on the Sparrow Piano version and background of His Eye Is On The Sparrow Free MP3 piano version of His Eye Is on the Sparrow Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title His Eye Is on the Sparrow amp oldid 1166280364, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
