Hill is noted as a humanitarian, and in 1996 she received an Essence Award for work which has included the 1996 founding of the Refugee Project, an outreach organization that supports a two-week overnight camp for at-risk youth, and for supporting well-building projects in Kenya and Uganda, as well as for staging a rap concert in Harlem to promote voter registration.
In 1999's Grammy Awards, Hill was nominated eleven times and won Album of the Year (beating Madonna's critically acclaimed album Ray of Light), Best New Artist, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, Best R&B Song, Best R&B Album, setting a new record for a female performer.
Hill has four children with retired (American) football player Rohan Marley, son of the late reggae music icon, Bob Marley: Zion David Marley, born 1997, Selah Louise Marley, born 1998, and second son Joshua, born 2002. A fourth child, John, was born in 2003 and the couple married soon after.
Early life
Lauryn Hill was born in East Orange, New Jersey. Hill was the second of two children born to high school English teacher Valerie Hill and computer programmer Mal Hill. As a child, Hill incessantly listened to her parents' Motown and 1960s soul records. Music was a central part of the Hill home. Mal Hill sang at weddings, Valerie played the piano, and Lauryn's older brother Melaney played the saxophone, guitar and drums.
Hill graduated from Columbia High School (New Jersey) in Maplewood, New Jersey. Hill was an active student, cheerleader, and performer. She began her acting career at a young age, and started performing music in 1987. In 1988, 13-year old Hill appeared as an Amateur Night contestant on It's Showtime at the Apollo. Hill sang her own version of William "Smokey" Robinson's song "Who's Lovin' You?". A nervous Hill sung far away from the mic and was heckled at first; but persisted and finished her song to a standing applause, though she did not win.
Hill was childhood friends with actor Zach Braff and they both graduated from Columbia High School in 1993. Braff mentions inviting Hill to his bar Mitzvah in 1988.[1]
Hill appeared on the soap opera, As The World Turns as Kira Johnson. In December 1993, she starred in "Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit" as Rita Louise Watson. In the film, she performed the songs "His Eye Is on the Sparrow" (a duet with Tanya Blount) and "Joyful,Joyful" . It was in this role, as Rita, that she first came to national prominence, with Roger Ebert calling her "the girl with the big joyful voice". Although Sister Act I and II were originally conceived as vehicles for comedian Whoopi Goldberg, the second installment won Lauryn equal notice.
Her other acting work includes the play Club XII with MC Lyte, and the motion pictures King of the Hill (as Arletta the Elevator Operator), Hav Plenty (1997), and Restaurant (1998). She appeared on the soundtracks to Conspiracy Theory in 1996 (on the track "Can't Take My Eyes Off You") and Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood in 2002 (on the track "Selah").
Her most recent album (mixtape) entitled "The Re-Education of Lauryn Hill" was released in 2007.
His Eye Is On The Sparrow
Lauryn Hill Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
And I know He watches me
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
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
The lyrics of "His Eye Is On the Sparrow" by Lauryn Hill are a testament to the singer's faith in God. The song begins by asking why one should feel discouraged or lonely when, as a follower of Jesus, one has a constant friend and support system in Him. The metaphor of a sparrow is used, as the singer believes that just as God watches over the sparrow, He watches over her as well. This gives her comfort and reassurance that she is not alone.
As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the singer is singing because of her happiness and freedom, which she attributes to the unwavering love and protection of God. She knows that His eye is on her, and she can feel it. This knowledge fills her with joy and gratitude and gives her the strength to face any challenges that life might throw her way.
Overall, "His Eye Is On the Sparrow" is a moving testament to Lauryn Hill's faith and the peace and reassurance that it brings her. The song is a reminder that, no matter how difficult or uncertain life may seem, we can find comfort and strength in our faith.
Line by Line Meaning
Why should I feel discouraged
I question why I should lose faith and be disheartened
Why should the shadows come
Why should darkness and gloom surround me
Why should my heart feel lonely
Why should I be all alone and feel isolated
And long for heaven and home
And yearn for a place of comfort where my soul belongs
When Jesus is my portion
When Jesus is my share or part of everything
A constant friend is He
He is always there to offer me support and companionship
His eye is on the sparrow
He keeps watch over the small and insignificant bird
And I know He watches over me
And I am assured that He is also watching over me
I sing because I'm happy
I sing because my heart is filled with joy
I sing because I'm free
I sing because I have been liberated from my troubles and sorrows
His eye is on the sparrow
He keeps watch over the small and insignificant bird
And I know He watches me (He watches me)
And I have faith that He is also keeping a watchful eye on me
His eye is on the sparrow
He keeps watch over the small and insignificant bird
And I know He watches me (He watches me)
And I am confident that He is also keeping a watchful eye on me
He watches me
I am reassured that He is watching over me
I know
I am aware
He watches
He is keeping a close eye
Me
On me, specifically
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Gene Bartlett, Charles Gabriel, C.D. Martin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind