<Tr> <Th> Songwriter (s) </Th> <Td> Civilla D. Martin </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Composer (s) </Th> <Td> Charles H. Gabriel </Td> </Tr> <P> "His Eye Is on the Sparrow" is a Gospel hymn . The song was 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 . Mahalia Jackson's recording of the song was honored with the Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 2010 . </P> <P> 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). </P>

When was his eye is on the sparrow written