His eye on the sparrow - Lauryn Hill and Tanya Blount - Lyrics - Sister Act 2 - Gospel Song
Mélinda, Aug 19, 2007
Lauryn Hill & Tanya Blount Scene Sister Act 2 : Back in
the Habit
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Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post showcases a video of Mississippi Mass Children's Choir singing the gospelized hymn* "His Eye Is On the Sparrow".
"His Eye Is On The Sparrow," performed by the
Mississippi Children's Choir (featuring a young Bryan Andrew Wilson) on the
album A New Creation, was officially released by Malaco Records on October 27,
1994 (AI Overview)
The history of this song and the lyrics for this song are included in this post.
The content of this post is presented for religious, historical, and inspirational purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Civilla D. Martin, the composer of this song. Thanks to all the arrangers of Black gospelized renditions of this song. Thanks to Tanya Blount, Lauryn Hill for their rendition of "His Eye Is On The Sparrow" in the 1993 movie Sister Act 2. Thanks also to the Mississippi Mass Choir and soloist Bryan Andrew Wilson for this rendition of "His Eye Is On The Sparrow" and thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this pancocojams post.
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"Gospelized hymn: is my term for a Gospel song that is performed in a gospel style, particularly in a Black American gospel style."
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Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/09/mississippi-childrens-choir-his-eye-is.html for rhe 2015 pancocojams post entitled "Mississippi Children's Choir - "His Eye Is On The Sparrow" (1994 video with selected discussion thread comments)." That post includes information about the soloist for this rendition of this song and focuses on the congregation's reactions to Mississippi Mass Choir's performance of this song. That post doesn't include any pancocojams post discussion thread comments.
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INFORMATION ABOUT THE HYMN "HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW''
From https://www.hymnologyarchive.com/his-eye-is-on-the-sparrow Hymnology Archive: His Eye Is On The Sparrow"
(https://hymnary.org/text/why_should_i_feel_discouraged_why_should)
"From the heart of inspirational Gospel music, this beloved hymn, "His Eye Is On the Sparrow", resonates with hope and divine care, delivered masterfully by these talented young voices. Their pure harmonies bring a timeless message of comfort and unwavering belief, a true testament to the enduring power of spiritual music. This performance beautifully embodies the rich tradition of Southern Gospel, touching hearts across generations with its profound message.
The poet behind this hymn, Civilla D. Martin (1866–1948), provided this account of the song in 1916:
It was written at the bedside of a bedridden saint in the city of Elmira, N.Y. I was reading and singing to her, and during our conversation I asked her if she did not sometimes get discouraged. She answered, “How can I be discouraged, when my Father watches the sparrows, and I know He loves and cares for me?” Procuring paper and pencil, in a few moments I wrote the now-famous hymn. The next day, I mailed it to Mr. Chas. H. Gabriel, who wrote the music and sent it to Mr. Chas. M. Alexander, in England, where the song was first sung in Albert Hall, during the great Torrey-Alexander revival. From there it has gone all over the world.[1]
Later in life, she offered a similar account:
Early in the spring of 1905, my husband and I were sojourning in Elmira, New York, after a winter’s evangelistic campaign in Canada. While living quietly in Elmira waiting for the Lord’s guidance to other fields of activity, we became acquainted with and contracted a deep friendship for a couple by the name of Mr. and Mrs. Doolittle. They were 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 wheelchair. Despite their afflictions, though, 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 and yet all-satisfying 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, singing itself to us that very afternoon in its complete form.[2]"...
Civilla would often write songs together with her composer-husband Walter Stillman Martin (1862–1935), including her other most famous song, “God will take care of you.” Some sources say Walter was unsatisfied with his own attempt at writing music for “His Eye Is on the Sparrow,” thus the appeal to composer Charles H. Gabriel (1856–1932). In his Personal Memoirs (1918), Gabriel gave his own account:
One evening . . . while in a despondent, down-hearted mood,
I was glancing over some song-words; none seemed to appeal to me. Presently I
remembered having received a hymn in the day’s mail which I had not as yet
looked at. Taking it from my pocket it seemed like a voice speaking directly to
me as I read, and its melody rang out of silence into my heart exactly as it is
sung today. I wrote it out, and in a letter to Mr. Alexander the next day, I
mailed it to England where, in Albert Hall, “The Sparrow Song” was first sung
in public.[3]”…
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Civilla D. Martin was a White woman who was born in Jordan Falls, Nova Scotia, August 21, 1866 and died in Atlanta, Georgia on March 9, 1948.
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SOME INFORMATION ABOUT BLACK GOSPEL ARRANGEMENTS OF "HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW"
From AI Overview (July 2026)
"The defining Black Gospel arrangement of "His Eye Is On The
Sparrow" was popularized by Ethel Waters in the mid-20th century,
accompanied by Billy Graham Crusade musical director Paul Mickelson. However,
the foundational 1905 hymn was penned by Civilla D. Martin and composed by
Charles H. Gabriel.
Because it is a timeless standard, dozens of influential gospel artists have reinterpreted and arranged the song over the decades. Notable arrangements include:
Thomas Whitfield: A widely celebrated gospel choir arrangement.
Mervyn Warren: Arranged the famous 1993 duet by Lauryn Hill and Tanya Blount for the movie Sister Act 2.
Richard Smallwood: Created a renowned,
soul-stirring choral rendition."
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SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 - Mississippi Children's Choir - His Eye Is On the Sparrow
malacomg, Dec 5, 2017 #Hymns #GospelMusic #ChristianMusic
Experience the heartwarming rendition of "His Eye Is On the Sparrow" by the incredible Mississippi Children's Choir. This powerful Gospel performance will uplift your spirit and fill your soul with joy and faith.
From the heart of inspirational Gospel music, this beloved hymn, "His Eye Is On the Sparrow", resonates with hope and divine care, delivered masterfully by these talented young voices. Their pure harmonies bring a timeless message of comfort and unwavering belief, a true testament to the enduring power of spiritual music. This performance beautifully embodies the rich tradition of Southern Gospel, touching hearts across generations with its profound message.
Soloist- Bryan Andrew Wilson
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LYRICS- HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW (Standard lyrics)
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;
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 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.
“Let not your heart be troubled.”
His tender word 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.
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.
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.
Source: Hymns: for home and church #1005
Online source: https://hymnary.org/text/why_should_i_feel_discouraged_why_should
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LYRICS- HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW (A Black Gospel Arrangement)
[Tanya Blount]
Why should I feel discouraged
Why should the shadows come
Why should my heart feel lonely?
And long for heaven and home
When Jesus is my portion
A constant Friend is He
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches over me
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me
[Lauryn Hill & Tanya Blount]
I sing because I’m happy
I sing because I’m free
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me
(He watches me)
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches
(I know He watches)
I know He watches me
[Lauryn Hill & Tanya Blount]
I sing because I’m happy
I sing because I’m free
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me
(He watches me)
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me
He watches me
He watches me
I know He watches me"
https://genius.com/Sister-act-2-cast-his-eye-is-on-the-sparrow-lyrics
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