Mahalia Jackson (October 26, 1911 – January 27, 1972) was an American gospe… Read Full Bio ↴Mahalia Jackson (October 26, 1911 – January 27, 1972) was an American gospel singer. Possessing a powerful contralto voice, she was referred to as "The Queen of Gospel". Jackson became one of the most influential gospel singers in the world and was heralded internationally as a singer and civil rights activist. She was described by entertainer Harry Belafonte as "the single most powerful black woman in the United States". She recorded about 30 albums (mostly for Columbia Records) during her career, and her 45 rpm records included a dozen "golds"—million-sellers.
"I sing God's music because it makes me feel free," Jackson once said about her choice of gospel, adding, "It gives me hope. With the blues, when you finish, you still have the blues."

Jackson grew up in the "Black Pearl" section of the Carrollton neighbourhood of uptown New Orleans, Louisiana, and began singing in a Baptist church. In 1927 she moved to Chicago, Illinois, where she sang with The Johnson Brothers, one of the earliest professional gospel groups.

The Johnson Brothers broke up in the mid-1930s, and Jackson began her solo career, recording for Decca in 1937. The result, "God's Gonna Separate the Wheat from the Tares", was only a moderate success, but Jackson became a popular concert draw. She didn't record again untill 1946, when she signed with Apollo Records, releasing several singles that are now highly regarded, though sales were sluggish at the time. "Move On up a Little Higher" (1948) became a huge success, however, and stores could not stock enough of it to meet demand. Jackson rocketed to fame in the U.S. and soon afterwards in Europe. "I Can Put My Trust in Jesus" won a prize from the French Academy, and "Silent Night" was one of the best-selling singles in the history of Norway. She began a radio series on CBS and signed to Columbia Records in 1954. With her mainstream success came an inevitable backlash from gospel purists who felt she had watered down her sound for popular accessibility.

Jackson's career in the late 1950s and early 1960s continued to rise when she recorded with Percy Faith, and performed at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival and the inauguration of John F. Kennedy. She also sang at the funeral of her friend Martin Luther King, Jr. The late 1960s saw a downturn in her popular success. She ended her career with a concert in Germany in 1971; when she returned, she made one of her final television appearances on The Flip Wilson Show.

Jackson died in Chicago on 27th January 1972 of heart failure and diabetes at the age of sixty. She was buried in Providence Memorial Park in Metairie, Louisiana. She was posthumously inducted into the Gospel Music Association's Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1978.

His Eye Is On The Sparrow
Mahalia Jackson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Why should I feel discouraged?
And why should the shadows come?
Why should my heart feel lonely
And long for heavenly home
When Jesus is my portion?
And my constant friend is He
You know, his eye is on the little sparrow
And I know he cares for you and me

His eye is on the little sparrow
And I know God is watching over you and me

I sing because my soul is a happy
I sing because I'm free

For His eye, it is on the little sparrow
And I know He's watching over you and me

Overall Meaning

Mahalia Jackson's song "His Eye Is On the Sparrow" is a gospel hymn that speaks about the comfort that comes from knowing that God is always watching over us. Throughout the song, the singer asks why they should feel discouraged or lonely when they have Jesus as their friend and constant companion. They find peace in the idea that God is watching over even the smallest sparrow and that they too are cared for and protected.

The lyrics of the song are a reminder that no matter how difficult life may seem, God is always with us. As believers, we should take comfort in the fact that we are never truly alone, and that we can always rely on God for guidance and protection. The song's message speaks to the idea that faith can help us overcome our fears and worries, and that we should trust in God's plan for our lives.

Line by Line Meaning

Why should I feel discouraged?
I do not need to have any doubts or feel downcast

And why should the shadows come?
I do not have to worry about any darkness that may come my way

Why should my heart feel lonely
I do not have to feel isolated or abandoned

And long for heavenly home
I do not have to yearn for a better place

When Jesus is my portion?
Because Jesus is with me, I have all that I need

And my constant friend is He
Jesus is always there for me, like a loyal companion

You know, his eye is on the little sparrow
God is watching even the smallest of creatures

And I know he cares for you and me
God's love is extended to all of us, no matter our size or status

His eye is on the little sparrow
Even though the sparrow is insignificant to most, God still watches over it with care

And I know God is watching over you and me
I have faith that God is watching over me and everyone, ensuring our welfare

I sing because my soul is a happy
I am filled with joy and positivity

I sing because I'm free
My spirit feels unchained and liberated

For His eye, it is on the little sparrow
God has a watchful eye over even the smallest, weakest of creatures

And I know He's watching over you and me
I trust God to care for and guard us all

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, O/B/O DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Bluewater Music Corp., Integrity Music, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CIVILLA MARTIN, CHARLES GABRIEL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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