200:. 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.
189:: "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).
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released the song as the second single from the album on June 8, 2012, 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
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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."
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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."
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Sometimes 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.
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Melissa Maerz called it "a gorgeously rippling solo" with Houston "testif that Jesus is watching over her." Jody Rosen of
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There are many arrangements of the hymn that have been produced since its original publication. These include:
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Civilla Martin, who wrote the lyrics, said of her inspiration to write the song based on the scriptures:
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Gospel
Digital Song Sales chart in June 2012, preceded by her original recording of "
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texts and MIDI sequences of 44 songs, including "His Eye Is on the
Sparrow"
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807:"Various Artists Sparkle: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Album Review"
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Songs of
Comfort and Hope: Vocal Solos for Memorial and Funeral Services
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Dan Fox, ed., Pleasantville, N.Y. : Reader's Digest
Association
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Early in the spring of 1905, my husband and I were sojourning in
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Published by
MorningStar Music Publishers, Fenton, Missouri
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A Foot in Two Worlds: A Pastor's
Journey From Grief to Hope
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Piano version and background of His Eye Is On The Sparrow
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Free MP3 piano version of "His Eye Is on the Sparrow"
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The Reader's Digest Family Songbook of Faith and Joy
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Walter Raim, Walter, ed., Chicago, Quadrangle Books
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169:The theme of the song is inspired by the words of
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240:has an arrangement for solo organ by Wilbur Held
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1643:Mahalia Jackson Theater of the Performing Arts
140:'s recording of the song was honored with the
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775:"Sparkle: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack"
158:single off one of the gospel singles charts.
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110:. It is most associated with actress-singer
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729:Whitney Houston – His Eye Is On The Sparrow
515:His Eye Is On The Sparrow: An Autobiography
286:Sparkle: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
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976:I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)
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558:"Whitney Houston: Billboard chart history"
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114:who used the title for her autobiography.
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1656:Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story
712:: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (
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513:Waters, Ethel, with Charles Samuels,
473:charts, reaching the top spot on the
154:, and became a posthumous number one
1703:Song recordings produced by R. Kelly
847:Selected Songs by Charles H. Gabriel
233:includes a concert arrangement of it
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1560:The World's Greatest Gospel Singer
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983:Didn't We Almost Have It All
229:for solo voice and piano by
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102:written in 1905 by lyricist
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1713:Songs released posthumously
1586:Take My Hand, Precious Lord
1338:One Wish: The Holiday Album
1262:Same Script, Different Cast
258:"His Eye Is on the Sparrow"
33:"His Eye is on the Sparrow"
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1718:Pace Jubilee Singers songs
1593:Move On Up a Little Higher
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1678:American Christian hymns
1474:The Star Spangled Banner
1446:Do You Hear What I Hear?
1348:One Wish (for Christmas)
238:Six Gospel Hymn Preludes
1240:I Learned from the Best
1176:I Believe in You and Me
1154:Why Does It Hurt So Bad
1040:All the Man That I Need
444:recorded a version for
251:Whitney Houston version
221:The Josh White Songbook
1637:Black, Brown and Beige
1418:I Will Always Love You
1090:I Will Always Love You
1004:Love Will Save the Day
296:June 8, 2012
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1723:Mahalia Jackson songs
1698:Whitney Houston songs
1033:I'm Your Baby Tonight
1023:I'm Your Baby Tonight
835:Civilla Durfee Martin
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1233:My Love Is Your Love
1202:My Love Is Your Love
1140:Exhale (Shoop Shoop)
1054:My Name Is Not Susan
954:Greatest Love of All
780:Entertainment Weekly
492:Entertainment Weekly
126:soundtrack in 1993.
1579:Peace in the Valley
1481:Something in Common
1377:Million Dollar Bill
1190:My Heart Is Calling
1166:The Preacher's Wife
1733:Ethel Waters songs
1728:20th-century hymns
1453:One Moment in Time
1276:If I Told You That
1118:Queen of the Night
1011:I Know Him So Well
926:You Give Good Love
919:Thinking About You
840:2012-04-04 at the
485:Critical reception
398:singles chronology
372:Charles H. Gabriel
108:Charles H. Gabriel
84:Charles H. Gabriel
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813:. 31 July 2012
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1183:Step by Step
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990:So Emotional
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112:Ethel Waters
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1631:Discography
1614:Come Sunday
1502:Higher Love
1147:Count On Me
933:All at Once
460:RCA Records
450:2012 remake
383:Producer(s)
350:RCA Records
165:Inspiration
120:Lauryn Hill
78:Composer(s)
1688:1905 songs
1672:Categories
1111:Run to You
735:2019-08-11
699:2017-08-31
594:2019-10-03
502:References
300:2012-06-08
1399:Celebrate
563:Billboard
539:April 10,
475:Billboard
470:Billboard
465:Celebrate
409:Celebrate
243:2007: in
219:1975: in
213:1963: in
156:Billboard
144:in 2010.
54:Published
1495:Memories
838:Archived
785:Archived
754:AllMusic
708:cite web
389:R. Kelly
308:Recorded
293:Released
1624:Related
1389:Sparkle
1047:Miracle
966:Whitney
912:Hold Me
893:singles
589:Discogs
455:Sparkle
448:of the
431:(2012)
422:(2012)
413:(2012)
298: (
185:in the
181:in the
173:in the
151:Sparkle
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1563:(1955)
689:Amazon
622:
533:Amazon
328:Length
322:Gospel
273:Single
236:1999:
225:1986:
175:Psalms
118:&
97:gospel
1571:Songs
345:Label
317:Genre
187:Bible
179:Jesus
177:and
171:David
1283:Fine
819:2015
793:2015
761:2015
714:link
620:ISBN
571:2022
541:2021
311:2011
100:hymn
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