The Sounds Good Choirs and the Good Memories Choir are busy rehearsing a program of uplifting music, called “Overflowing Hearts,” for our upcoming concerts in April and May. There’s a line in one of our songs, “I Sing Because I’m Happy,” that has sparked the curiosity of many singers in our choirs for older adults. “What does it mean,” they ask, when the lyrics say: “For His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me”?
It happens to refer to one of my favorite pieces of scripture, so I thought I’d write about it. The reference to the sparrow comes from two verses in the New Testament book of Matthew:
Photo credit: Roshan Tmg/Unsplash
Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 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 6:25-26).
A second, related verse makes specific reference to the sparrow:
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. (Matthew 10:29)
‘Do not worry’ is the overarching message. The idea that Jesus is outlining is this: If God watches over even the smallest and least important creatures, like the sparrow, then surely He watches over you, His beloved children. It’s a message of reassurance.
In our song, “I Sing Because I’m Happy”, the line “His eye is on the sparrow” is a rephrasing that combined the scripture verses, created by Civilla Martin, who wrote the lyrics for the 1905 hymn of the same name. She offered this description of the origin of that hymn:
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.
Thanks so much, Sandy. What a great explanation! It’s so needed especially now.
Love this so much.
Thank you Sandy,
I knew it had a story and the story helps me to understand, not only the song, but the meaning of the phrase itself. I will be able to sing it with more empathy and emotion.
Thanks Sandy,
That is a lovely reflection.
Thank you, Sandy, for the lovely story about our song. It makes singing it all the more inspiring.
That’s beautiful. Thank you.
Although I do not subscribe to the New Testament, I infered the meaning to be that since G-d looks out for his smallest creatures, he surely looks out for me as well. It is a lovely sentiment. Interestingly, a crewel work beside the ladies restroom at St. Andrew’s quotes Matthew with that verse.
How wonderful! I was familiar with the scripture, but not the origin of the hymn. Thanks so much for posting this.
It reminds me of, and I’ll paraphrase just in case I’ve gotten some wrong, ‘look to the lilies of the field, they neither sow nor reap yet they are arrayed in finery better than the robes of Solomon.’
I love this. Also the lilies of the field.
Sandy,
This is beautiful. Thank you for sharing it.