His eye is on the sparrow

His eye is on the sparrow

 

I heard a song yesterday that I’d never heard before.  That’s not surprising of course but the fact is I have the song on my ipod and there’s no doubt I heard it before but never really “heard” it, if that makes sense!  It caught my attention yesterday on my way home from Marie Sharkey’s Funeral Mass because it totally tied in with the Gospel at this weekend’s Mass where Jesus compares the Father’s love for us with His ability to count the hairs on our heads (not an over-taxing role for God in my case!!) and with God’s noticing even the Sparrow that falls from the sky.  The song very much speaks to the theme and maybe it’s worth a listen today.  This version has the lyrics as well … Hope you enjoy it.



“His Eye Is On The Sparrow” Lyrics

Bill Gaither [Gospel] feat. Lynda Randle

Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.

“Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.

Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.

This song was submitted on November 20th, 2013 and last modified on March 19th, 2017.
Copyright with Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc..
Written by C D Martin, Charles Hutchison Gabriel.
Lyrics licensed by LyricFind.

 

Roots and Wings

I think you know that I like lyrics, especially those that make me think and in the past few days I came across a wonderful song by Imelda May.  It’s called “The girl I used to be” and she speaks of her own upbringing and the values she wishes to share with her young daughter.  There’s a lovely introduction to this in the video below.  There’s a lengthy introduction but it’s worth a listen too. Well done Imelda.

I hope you enjoy this …. that’s the reason I’m sharing it.

 

LYRICS

Once upon a time
A Dublin girl ran free
Down the cobblestones
Round pubs and homes
As rich as she could be
Swimming in the Irish Sea
Climbing up Bray Head
Her lips were warmed
With pots of tea
Chips and buttered bread
Fed love from Mam and Da

They raised her up
They made her fly
They gave her roots and wings
As time moves on and years go by
She’ll miss those simple things
She’s the girl I used to be

The playgrounds all came down
And we mourned our factories
Times were tough, but I had enough
I had my family
Life kicked in with all its might
But my strong heart wouldn’t break
I got kicked around and broken down
I took all that I could take

But you raise me up
You made me fly
You gave me roots and wings
As time moves on and years go by
I miss those simple things
And the girl I used to be

Now I’m grown with a child of my own
And I hope to God on high
That these are the days she thinks upon
As the best days of her life

And I’ll raise her up
I’ll make her fly
I’ll give her roots and wings
As time moves on and years go by
She’ll miss those simple things
And the girl she used to be
She’s the girl I used to be


Cohen was right!

Cohen was right!

I think Leonard Cohen should have been awarded the Nobel Prize! There, I’ve said it.  I have no axe to grind with Bob Dylan of course.  Chances are neither is too worried about what I think.

“Forget your perfect offering, (Cohen said in Anthem), 
there is a crack, a crack in everything
that’s how the light gets in.”

I like those lines.  If we wait for perfection a lot of life will pass us by.

We had a very interesting talk yesterday (Diocesan gathering) on the history of monasteries in our diocese and country.  The talk, linked with a few days we had together and a theme of “hope”. finished with an image of the Ardagh Chalice.  The speaker, Colmán O Clábaigh OSB, told us that though the chalice is revered as one of our finest historical treasures it has been discovered that the chalice leaks and most likely always did.  With that in mind, it’s certain the “chalice” could never have been used at the celebration of Eucharist and yet it survives as a symbol of our faith, culture and heritage.  A leaking chalice!

Cohen was right … a crack, a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.

Thanks be to God!

VIRAL?  Not quite ……

VIRAL? Not quite ……

I received a number of texts, calls and (yes) sarcastic comments during the week!!  These were in response to Fr Ray Kelly’s fine singing voice at an Oldcastle Wedding.  Powerful stuff!  As I write nearly fifteen million views of the original YouTube Video have been clocked up – not to mention other views from other sources.

You see I’ve often sang at weddings but sadly nobody posted!  You just wonder what might have happened??? So, if you’ve a good clip of me singing at your wedding, give it a go!!

That’s what led to the comments.  Unlike Fr Ray, my voice is raw and my range limited.  Like him however, I enjoy the “song” in all of us and have been glad to use some through the years – often as part of the few words I try to share.  I think there’s something very powerful in a song and that it has the potential to bring people back to a moment when they hear it, maybe whilst driving in the car, working in the house or doing the bit of shopping.  I like to think the song, admittedly better and more professionally sung, might take them back to that Sacred Moment when we stood near each other, in the shadow – the glow – of The Altar.

[youtube=http://youtu.be/XYKwqj5QViQ?rel=0]

As for me, I’ll sing the few notes I have – once told that I have “all the right notes but not in the right order”!!

A little example!!  Fr Ray has nothing to fear:)

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